Verse 34

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In plain words

I am all-devouring death, and the rise to prosperity of those whose good is yet to come. Among women I am fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, and forgiveness.

Word for word

And I [am] all-seizing death, and the rise of those whose good is to come; fame, prosperity and speech among women, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, forbearance.

The commentators

Bhagavadgītābhāṣyam· bhāṣya

मृत्युः द्विविधः धनादिहरः प्राणहरश्च ; तत्र यः प्राणहरः, स सर्वहरः उच्यते ; सः अहम् इत्यर्थः । अथवा, परः ईश्वरः प्रलये सर्वहरणात् सर्वहरः, सः अहम् । उद्भवः उत्कर्षः अभ्युदयः तत्प्राप्तिहेतुश्च अहम् । केषाम् ? भविष्यतां भाविकल्याणानाम् , उत्कर्षप्राप्तियोग्यानाम् इत्यर्थः । कीर्तिः श्रीः वाक् च नारीणां स्मृतिः मेधा धृतिः क्षमा इत्येताः उत्तमाः स्त्रीणाम् अहम् अस्मि, यासाम् आभासमात्रसम्बन्धेनापि लोकः कृतार्थमात्मानं मन्यते ॥ ३४ ॥

In plain words

Death is of two kinds: one that takes away wealth and possessions, and one that takes away life itself. The one that takes life is properly called the 'taker of all' — and that is what I am. Or, put differently, I am the Supreme Lord who, at the moment of dissolution, takes everything back into himself — that too is what 'taker of all' means, and that I am as well. I am also rising fortune, excellence, and flourishing, and whatever brings a person to attain it — flourishing yet to come, for those destined for well-being, for those fit to rise. And among all that is called feminine — fame, prosperity, eloquent speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, forbearance — I am the very best of these, the qualities such that even the faintest brush with them makes a person feel their life has found its purpose.

Close to the Sanskrit

Death is twofold: the taking of wealth and the like, and the taking of life; of these, whichever is the taking of life, that is called the 'taker of all'; that I am — this is the meaning. Or else, the Supreme Lord, because of taking all at dissolution, is the 'taker of all'; that I am. Rise, excellence, flourishing, and the cause of attaining that, I am. Of whom? Of those in the future, of those destined for well-being, of those fit to attain excellence; this is the meaning. Fame, prosperity, speech, and — among feminine qualities — memory, intelligence, steadfastness, forbearance: these, the best, among women, I am; through even the merest semblance of connection with whom people consider themselves fulfilled.