BG 10.26 asvatthah sarva-vrksanam... cited

Expressions researched:
"asvatthah sarva-vrksanam" |"devarsinam ca naradah" |"gandharvanam citrarathah" |"siddhanam kapilo munih"

BG Chapters 7 - 12

BG 10.26, Translation and Purport:

Of all trees I am the banyan tree, and of the sages among the demigods I am Nārada. Of the Gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila.

The banyan tree (aśvattha) is one of the highest and most beautiful trees, and people in India often worship it as one of their daily morning rituals. Amongst the demigods they also worship Nārada, who is considered the greatest devotee in the universe. Thus he is the representation of Kṛṣṇa as a devotee. The Gandharva planet is filled with entities who sing beautifully, and among them the best singer is Citraratha. Amongst the perfect living entities, Kapila, the son of Devahūti, is a representative of Kṛṣṇa. He is considered an incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, and His philosophy is mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Later on another Kapila became famous, but his philosophy was atheistic. Thus there is a gulf of difference between them.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- April 3, 1974, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Life. Knowledge, knowledge.

Dr. Patel:

rudrāṇāṁ śaṅkaraś cāsmi

vitteśo yakṣa-rakṣasām

vasūnāṁ pāvakaś cāsmi

meruḥ śikhariṇām aham

purodhasāṁ ca mukhyaṁ māṁ

viddhi pārtha bṛhaspatim

senānīnām ahaṁ skandaḥ

sarasām asmi sāgaraḥ

Prabhupāda: Skanda means Karttikeya.

Dr. Patel: Yes. Karttikeya. Maharṣīṇāṁ bhṛgur ahaṁ girām asmy ekam akṣaram. "I am oṁ."

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Dr. Patel: Yajñānāṁ japa-yajño 'smi. (laughs)

Prabhupāda: Yes. Yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtanaiḥ prayair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ (SB 11.5.32). This is there. Japa-yoga, Hare Kṛṣṇa, this is the first-class...

Dr. Patel:

yajñānāṁ japa-yajño 'smi

sthāvarāṇāṁ himālayaḥ

aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāṁ

devarṣīṇāṁ ca nāradaḥ

gandharvāṇāṁ citrarathaḥ

siddhānāṁ kapilo muniḥ

Prabhupāda: Now, the Kapila Muni. Who is that Kapila Muni?

Dr. Patel: That Devahūti's son.

Prabhupāda: Son, yes.