पुरोधसां च मुख्यं मां विद्धि पार्थ बृहस्पतिम् |
सेनानीनामहं स्कन्द: सरसामस्मि सागर: || 24||
purodhasāṁ cha mukhyaṁ māṁ viddhi pārtha bṛihaspatim
senānīnām ahaṁ skandaḥ sarasām asmi sāgaraḥ
purodhasām—amongst priests; cha—and; mukhyam—the chiefs; mām—me; viddhi—know; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; bṛihaspatim—Brihaspati; senānīnām—warrior chief; aham—I; skandaḥ—Kartikeya; sarasām—amongst reservoirs of water; asmi—I am; sāgaraḥ—the ocean
Translation:
Of priests, Ο Pārtha, know Me to be the chief, Brihaspati. Of generals I am Skanda; of reservoirs of water I am the ocean.
Commentary:
Chief Prominence and excellence are the chief marks of the Divine.
BṚHASPATI, THE DEVA-GURU
Bṛhaspati is the purohita of the devas. He is very gentle compared to Sukracharya, the Guru of the asuras. Sukracharya is very powerful and also has many occult powers. Bṛhaspati advises the devas on what is good for them. He does not give them unnecessary powers. Whenever any problem arises, he makes them go to the Lord. At one time, Indra considered Bṛhaspati powerless compared to Sukracharya. He insulted Brihaspati, and soon Bṛhaspati just disappeared. He did not fight, he did not curse, but he just went away. Without their Guru, the devas suffered immensely. Ultimately, they came to the recognition of how precious their teacher was. They then searched and found him and surrendered to him. Bhagavan says, “Whoever guides you, be it a good teacher, your Guru or even elders, they are all My forms.”
The function of the priest is to conduct the yajñas. Brihaspati discharges this sacred duty among the devas and is of great eminence among them. Hence Bhagavan says, “Among the priests, know Me to be Bṛhaspati.” (Source: Srimad Bhagavad Gita – Elixir of Eternal Wisdom | Vol 1)
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 10 🔻 (42 Verses)
