Chapter 10, Verse 21 (Bhagavad Gita 10.21)
Chapter 10: Vibhūti Yog – Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God
Sanskrit Shloka
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान्। मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी
Transliteration
ādityānām ahaṁ viṣhṇur jyotiṣhāṁ ravir anśhumān marīchir marutām asmi nakṣhatrāṇām ahaṁ śhaśhī
Word Meanings
ādityānām—amongst the twelve sons of Aditi; aham—I; viṣhṇuḥ—Lord Vishnu; jyotiṣhām—amongst luminous objects; raviḥ—the sun; anśhu-mān—radiant; marīchiḥ—Marichi; marutām—of the Maruts; asmi—(I) am; nakṣhatrāṇām—amongst the stars; aham—I; śhaśhī—the moon
Translation
Among the twelve Adityas, I am Vishnu; among luminaries, the radiant sun; among the Maruts, I am Marichi; and among the stars, I am the moon.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals His pervasive presence as the soul of all existence, guiding Arjuna to perceive the Divine behind the mask of nature. By identifying Himself as the greatest among the celestial entities, Shri Krishna establishes that every aspect of power, light, and order in the universe originates from His essence. For the seeker, this revelation serves as a meditative tool to witness the majesty of Lord Krishna in every object of beauty and radiance. By constantly contemplating Him as the source of all luminaries, the devotee transcends mundane distractions and anchors the mind in the eternal reality of the Supreme. Ultimately, this practice dissolves the veil of ignorance, leading the soul toward liberation by recognizing Shri Krishna as the singular truth behind the multiplicity of the universe.