In Bhagavad Gita 10.21, Krishna says that among the Adityas he is Vishnu, among lights the radiant sun, among the Maruts Marichi, and among the stars the moon.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्
ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान्
मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि
नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥ १०-२१ ॥
ādityānāmahaṃ viṣṇur
jyotiṣāṃ raviraṃśumān
marīcirmarutāmasmi
nakṣatrāṇāmahaṃ śaśī
English transliteration aadityaanaamaham vishnur
jyotishaam raviramshumaan
mareechirmarutaamasmi
nakshatraanaamaham shashee ॥ 10.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Among the Adityas I am Vishnu; among lights, the radiant sun; among the Maruts I am Marichi; and among the stars, I am the moon.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आदित्यानाम् ādityānām | among the Ādityas |
| अहम् aham | I |
| विष्णुः viṣṇuḥ | Viṣṇu |
| ज्योतिषाम् jyotiṣām | among lights |
| रविः raviḥ | the sun |
| अंशुमान् aṃśumān | radiant |
| मरीचिः marīciḥ | Marīci |
| मरुताम् marutām | among the Maruts |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| नक्षत्राणाम् nakṣatrāṇām | among the stars |
| अहम् aham | I |
| शशी śaśī | the moon |
Word-wise Chanting
- ā–dit–yā–nā–ma–haṃ viṣ–ṇur– 8 syllables aa-dit-yaa-naa-ma-ham vish-nur-
- jyo–ti–ṣāṃ ra–vi–raṃ–śu–mān | 8 syllables jyo-ti-shaam ra-vi-ram-shu-maan
- ma–rī–cir–ma–ru–tā–mas–mi 8 syllables ma-ree-chir-ma-ru-taa-mas-mi
- na–kṣat–rā–ṇā–ma–haṃ śa–śī || 10-21 8 syllables na-kshat-raa-naa-ma-ham sha-shee
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 10 Verse 21
Context
Krishna names his chief glories (10.21–10.38).
Meaning
Throughout the list, Krishna names the best in each class. Among the twelve Ādityas, solar deities, he is Viṣṇu; among all lights, the brilliant sun; among the Maruts, the storm-gods, Marīci, their chief; among the lights of the night sky, the moon.
The pattern is consistent: the Divine shines most clearly in whatever is supreme in its kind. We can recognise it in excellence wherever it appears.
In Practice
Watch the sun or the moon today, and remember the Divine shining through it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga (The Divine Manifestations). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.