Memory, steadiness, forgiveness

mṛtyuḥ sarvaharaścāhamudbhavaśca bhaviṣyatāmkīrtiḥ śrīrvākca nārīṇāṃ smṛtirmedhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā

I am death that takes all, and the birth of what will be. I am fame, grace, speech, memory, wisdom, steadiness and forgiveness.

What it means

Krishna is both death, which takes everything away, and the source of all that will be born. Then he names seven beautiful qualities. Good name. Grace and prosperity. Fine speech. Memory. Intelligence. Dhriti, steadiness. And kshama, forgiveness. Wherever these shine in a person, Krishna is shining.

The story

Arjuna is surrounded by death. Krishna reminds him that the same divine power also brings new life, and lives in qualities like forgiveness, which this war has sorely lacked.

In your life

Pick one of these seven, memory, steadiness, forgiveness, kind speech, and practise it today. Perhaps forgive one small thing that's been nagging at you.