Bhagavad-gītā 10.36

Explain simply

Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa

द्यूतं छलयतामस्मि तेजस्तेजस्विनामहम् ।
जयोऽस्मि व्यवसायोऽस्मि सत्त्वं सत्त्ववतामहम् ॥३६॥

dyūtaṁ chalayatām asmi
tejas tejasvinām aham
jayo 'smi vyavasāyo 'smi
sattvaṁ sattvavatām aham

Word for word (synonyms)

dyūtam
gambling
chalayatām
of all cheats
asmi
I am
tejaḥ
splendid
tejasvinām
of everything splendid
aham
I am
jayaḥ
victory
asmi
I am
vyavasāyaḥ
adventure
asmi
I am
sattvam
strength
sattvavatām
of all the strong
aham
I am

Translation

I am also the gambling of cheats, and of the splendid I am the splendor. I am victory, I am adventure, and I am the strength of the strong.

Purport

There are many kinds of cheaters all over the universe. Of all cheating processes, gambling stands supreme and therefore represents Kṛṣṇa. As the Supreme, Kṛṣṇa can be more deceitful than any mere man. If Kṛṣṇa chooses to deceive a person, no one can surpass Him in His deceit. His greatness is not simply one-sided—it is all-sided.

Among the victorious, He is victory. He is the splendor of the splendid. Among enterprising industrialists, He is the most enterprising. Among adventurers, He is the most adventurous, and among the strong, He is the strongest. When Kṛṣṇa was present on earth, no one could surpass Him in strength. Even in His childhood He lifted Govardhana Hill. No one can surpass Him in cheating, no one can surpass Him in splendor, no one can surpass Him in victory, no one can surpass Him in enterprise, and no one can surpass Him in strength.

What this verse teaches

Various opulences of Kṛṣṇa (See the table)

Kṛṣṇa's opulences: "Among … I am …" Full table
Verse AmongI am
10.36 the splendid the splendor
"I am also …" Full table
Verse I am
10.36 the gambling of cheats
10.36 victory
10.36 adventure
10.36 the strength of the strong

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.