Chapter 10, Verse 32

सर्गाणाम् among creations, आदिः the beginning, अन्तः the end, च and, मध्यम् the middle, च and, एव also, अहम् I, अर्जुन O Arjuna, अध्यात्मविद्या the science of the Self, विद्यानाम् among sciences, वादः logic, प्रवदताम् among controversialists, अहम् I. Commentary: I am the metaphysics among all sciences. I am knowledge of the Self among all branches of knowledge. I am the argument of d ators. I am the logic of disputants. I am the speech of orators.In verse 20 above the Lord says, I am the beginning, the middle and the end of the whole movable and immovable creation. Here the whole creation in general is referred to.As the knowledge of the Self leads to the attainment of the final beatitude of life or salvation, it is the chief among all branches of knowledge.Pravadatam By the word controversialists, we should here understand the various kinds of people using various kinds of argumentation in logic such as Vada, Jalpa and Vitanda. Yada is a way of arguing by which one gets at the truth of a certain estion. The aspirants who are free from RagaDvesha and jealousy raise amongst themselves estions and answers and enter into discussions on philosophical problems in order to ascertain and understand the nature of the Truth. They do not argue in order to gain victory over one another. This is Vada. Jalpa is wrangling in which one asserts his own opinion and refutes that of his opponent. Vitanda is idle carping at the arguments of ones opponents. No attempt is made to establish the other side of the estion. In Jalpa and Vitanda one tries to defeat another. There is desire for victory.