I am the strength of the strong, devoid of desire and attachment. I am desire in beings that is not contrary to dharma, O best of the Bharatas.
Synthesis
Krishna is the strength of the strong (free from desire and attachment) and the dharmic desire in beings. This verse rehabilitates both strength and desire by linking them to the divine when properly directed. Shankara interprets this as the pure sattva quality — strength and desire untainted by personal craving. Ramanuja sees the Lord as the source of all noble qualities, including righteous aspiration. The bhakti tradition reads this as sanctifying desire itself when it flows toward God. Madhva explains that divine power is inherently dharmic — even worldly impulses aligned with righteousness have their source in Vishnu. Abhinavagupta sees dharmic desire as the refined creative impulse (icchā shakti) of consciousness — desire that expands awareness rather than contracts it. Vallabhacharya teaches that sacred desire is cultivated, not suppressed, in pushti marga. Tilak finds this verse central to his philosophy: desire is not sinful but becomes so only when opposing dharma — the karma yogi acts with full purposeful desire in service of duty. Vivekananda declares that strength is divine and weakness is not — power purified of selfishness becomes the instrument of liberation and service.
Commentaries 8 traditions
Shankara clarifies that God is strength in its pure form — the capacity to act and endure — free from the distortion of selfish craving. Similarly, desire itself is not the enemy; only desire that violates dharma causes bondage. The Self is the power behind all legitimate action.
Apply This Verse
Personal Growth
Not all desire is harmful. The desire to grow, to serve, to become your best self is dharmic — it is life moving through you. The key is whether desire is aligned with your deepest values or driven by ego and attachment.
Questions this verse answers
- ?"How do I distinguish dharmic desire from ego-driven craving?"
- ?"Is it okay to have strong desires and ambitions?"
- ?"When does strength become corrupted by attachment?"
- ?"How do I pursue my goals without being driven by greed?"