b?hat-sama tatha samna?
gayatri chandasam aham
masana? marga-sir?o ’ham
?tuna? kusumakara?

Translation of Bhagavad Gita 10.35

Of the hymns in the Sama Veda I am the Brihat-sama, and of poetry I am the Gayatri. Of months I am Margasirsa [November-December], and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring.

Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:

It has already been explained by the Lord that amongst all the Vedas, He is the Sama Veda. The Sama Veda is rich with beautiful songs played by the various demigods. One of these songs is the Brihat-sama, which has an exquisite melody and is sung at midnight.

In Sanskrit, there are definite rules that regulate poetry; rhyme and meter are not written whimsically, as in much modern poetry. Amongst the regulated poetry, the Gayatri mantra, which is chanted by the duly qualified brahmanas, is the most prominent. The Gayatri mantra is mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Because the Gayatri mantra is especially meant for God realization, it represents the Supreme Lord. This mantra is meant for spiritually advanced people, and when one attains success in chanting it, he can enter into the transcendental position of the Lord. One must first acquire the qualities of the perfectly situated person, the qualities of goodness according to the laws of material nature, in order to chant the Gayatri mantra. The Gayatri mantra is very important in Vedic civilization and is considered to be the sound incarnation of Brahman. Brahma is its initiator, and it is passed down from him in disciplic succession.

The month of November-December is considered the best of all months because in India grains are collected from the fields at this time and the people become very happy. Of course spring is a season universally liked because it is neither too hot nor too cold and the flowers and trees blossom and flourish. In spring there are also many ceremonies commemorating Krishna’s pastimes; therefore this is considered to be the most joyful of all seasons, and it is the representative of the Supreme Lord, Krishna.

Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:

The Lord has already said that he is the Sama among the Vedas. Here he says that among the verses to be sung he is the Brhat Sama in the verse which begins tvamrrddhim havamahe. (Rg Veda 6.46.1) Among meters I am gayatri, and among seasons I am spring (kusumakarah), filled with flowers.

Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:

10.35 Of Saman hymns, I am the Brhatsaman. Of meters, I am the Gayatri. Of seasons, I am the season of flowers (spring).

Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:

Lord Krishna has already revealed in verse 22 that of the four Vedas, His vibhuti ot divine, transcendental opulence is the Sama Veda. Now here in this verse He reveals that of all the hymns of all the Vedas, His vibhuti is the Brhad Sama. This hymn is chanted at the conclusion of auspicious Vedic ceremonies and praises Lord Krishna’s when He assumed the post of Indra the ruler of the demigods during His manvantara incarnation as Dharmasetu. Of chandasam or mantras composed in poetical meter Lord Krishna’s vibhuti is the Gayatri mantra which is the best as by its efficacy it confers Brahmin status on the qualified initiate. It is also sung at the time of picking the Soma plant by the demigods. Of months His vibhuti is Margasirsa when the grains are harvested and of seasons His vibhuti is the spring season.

Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:

Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.

Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:

Previously in verse 22 Lord Krishna revealed that His vibhuti or divine, transcendental opulence from the Vedas is the Sama Veda. Now He specifies that His vibhuti within the Sama Veda is the hymn known as Brhat-Sama indicated in the Rig Veda VI.XXXXVI.I beginning tvam rddhim havamahe meaning O’Indra we invoke you. This hymn is a very wonderfully sublime auspicious hymn with a very beautiful melody glorifying the Supreme Lord when He assumed the position of Indra during His manvantara incarnation as Dharmasetu. Of mantras composed in long and short meters His vibhuti is the Gayatri mantras which Vedic initiates attain Brahmin status and who then by chanting in the three regulated periods of the day being before sunrise, midday and after sunset perform the three sacred sacrifices which are the lifetime duty of every Brahmin. It is also chanted while the Soma ritual is being performed by the demigods.

Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:

10.35 I am tatha, also; the Brhat-sama, the foremost samnam, of the Sama-mantras. Chandasam, of the metres, of the Rk-mantras having the metres Gayatri etc.; I am the Rk called Gayatri. This is meaning. Masanam, of the months, I am Marga-sirsa (Agrahayana, November-December). Rtunam, of the seasons; kusumakarah, spring.

Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:

10.19-42 Hanta te etc. upto jagat sthitah. I am the Soul etc. (verse 20) : By this [the Bhagavat] wards off the exclusion [of any being as different form Him]. Otherwise the sentences like ‘Of the immovable [I am] the the Himalayas’ (verse 25) etc., would amount to the exclusive statement that the Himalayan range is the Bhagavat and not any other one. In that case, the indiscriminateness of the Brahman is not established and hence the realisation of the Brahman would be a partial (or conditioned) one. For, the [present] text of exposition is intended for that seeker whose mind cannot contemplate on the all-pervasiveness [of the Brahman], but who [at the same time] is desirous of realising that [all-pervasiveness]. Hence, while concluding, [the Bhagavat] teaches the theory of duality-cumunity by saying ‘whatsoever being exists with the manifesting power’ etc., and then concludes the topic with the theory of absolute unity, as ‘Or what is the use of this elaboration;…..I remain pervading this [universe] by a single fraction [of Myself] This has been declared indeed [in the scriptures] as : ‘All beings constitute [only] His one-fourth; His [other] immortal three-forths are in the heaven.’ (Rgveda, X, xc, 3). Thus, all this and the prime cause of creatures, are nothing but the Bhagavat (Absolute). And hence, He Himself becomes the object of knowledge of all, but being comprehended with the different strange qualities.

Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:

brhat-sama tatha samnam
gayatri chandasam aham
masanam marga-sirso ’ham
rtunam kusumakarah

Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:

b?hat-sama — the B?hat-sama; tatha — also; samnam — of the Sama Veda songs; gayatri — the Gayatri hymns; chandasam — of all poetry; aham — I am; masanam — of months; marga-sir?a? — the month of November-December; aham — I am; ?tunam — of all seasons; kusuma-akara? — spring.