श्रीभगवानुवाच -
भूय एव महाबाहो शृणु मे परमं वचः ।
यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामि हितकाम्यया ।। १०.१ ।।

śrī-bhagavān uvāca -
bhūya eva mahā-bāho śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ | 
yat-te’haṁ prīyamāṇāya vakṣyāmi hita-kāmyayā || 10.1 ||

Devotion implies understanding the Creation

Krishna is all set to describe the visvarupa, the Universal Form, meaning the universal dimension reigning within the human individual. That the individual is universal too, the microcosm is the macrocosm as well, is a fundamental principle in creation. In fact, the creation itself is an expansion, enlargement, in the same way as the entire dream creation is an expansion of the mind. The same power of Creation is encased within the body, with a limited power and dimension. When it swells, as it were, to become the dream world and creation, it reveals its broad, nay, endless dimension.

Take a cell in the body. It contains the inherent, genetic characteristics of the whole body. In the body, there is nothing but cells. The cells ‘enlarged and expanded’, as it were, become the body. Likewise, a molecule or an atom of any substance has the characteristics of that substance itself, in full. Take a point. When ‘enlarged and expanded’, it becomes a sizeable sphere – so big as to encompass the whole universe.

Thus, in any speck, is contained its expanse. This expanse is, therefore, an inner one. It is evidenced when the insentient matter gets animated to be a living organism. In the living organisms, there is a progressive order. From amoebae, it ascends to become tiny beings that go on increasing, becoming bigger and more developed. Thus there are, on the land as well as in the ocean, a plethora of living beings – animals, birds, fish, monkeys, and finally the humans.

In the human, the inner faculties and dimensions are manifest to the maximum. This manifestation is made possible by the structure of the body itself. For instance, it is the hands and fingers that make human activities as efficient as we see now. In the same way, it is the brain and intelligence that further empower the human being to think, formulate ideas and gain knowledge. Tongue, cheeks, lips, teeth, etc. enable him to express and communicate, resulting in multifaceted interactions.

The same brain and intelligence also empower him to probe within, arrive at and relate dimensions, leading him to the universal magnitude. That there is this universality, contained in the sentient part of our personality, and that it is understandable and accessible to us for comprehension and communication, is something that our biological body provides for. The difference between the human and the non-humans is thus mainly in the body, its parts, and the scope and potential these host and display.

Release from sins through wisdom

Instructed sufficiently, Arjuna is now ready to imbibe and reflect the inner spiritual dimensions Krishna wishes to communicate. This instruction and the corresponding reception of what is communicated, are quite important in spiritual dialogues and interactions. Spirituality is not a mere intellectual pursuit. It is emotionally fulfilling. There is a strong bond between the Teacher and the disciple. Krishna brings all the personal fondness and focus in communicating the message, so that the instruction becomes warm and especially effective:

Listen, Arjuna, again, the supreme words from me. I tell you these because I am fond of you, and am desirous of your welfare.