बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम् । धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ ॥
balaṃ balavatāṃ cāhaṃ kāmarāgavivarjitam | dharmāviruddho bhūteṣu kāmo'smi bharatarṣabha ||
Translation
I am the strength of the strong, devoid of desire and passion. I am the desire in beings that does not conflict with righteousness, O best of the Bharatas.
Interpretation
Two subtle points: (1) The strength of the strong — but strength purified of selfish desire and passion (kama-raga-vivarjitam). Divine strength is power without ego, capacity without craving. (2) And remarkably: even desire itself has a divine form — the desire that is not in conflict with dharma (righteousness, the cosmic order). Not all desire is bad; the desire for liberation, the desire to do one's duty, the desire for knowledge — these are divine. Krishna is even the essence of such righteous desire.