Bhagavad Gita 10.22 · Krishna
The song and the listener
वेदानां सामवेदोऽस्मि देवानामस्मि वासवः।
इन्द्रियाणां मनश्चास्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना॥
vedānāṃ sāmavedo’asmi devānāmasmi vāsavaḥindriyāṇāṃ manaścāsmi bhūtānāmasmi cetanā
Among the Vedas I am the Sama Veda. Among gods, Indra. Among the senses, the mind. In living beings, I am awareness.
What it means
The Sama Veda is the sung scripture, the Veda of melody. Indra is king of the gods. Then Krishna turns inward again. Among the senses, he is the mind that gathers them. And in every living thing, he is consciousness itself, the light by which we know anything at all.
The story
Since childhood Arjuna has heard the Sama Veda chanted at royal rites, those long rising melodies. Krishna is saying, the music you love is me. And so is the awareness that hears it.
In your life
A choir rehearses in a cold church hall, and for one moment every voice locks into a single chord. Today, listen to one piece of music with your full attention, from start to finish.
In the song, and in the one who hears.