In Bhagavad Gita 10.29, Krishna says that among nagas he is Ananta, among water deities Varuna, among ancestors Aryaman, and among those who govern Yama.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां
वरुणो यादसामहम्
पितॄणामर्यमा चास्मि
यमः संयमतामहम् ॥ १०-२९ ॥
anantaścāsmi nāgānāṃ
varuṇo yādasāmaham
pitṝṇāmaryamā cāsmi
yamaḥ saṃyamatāmaham
English transliteration anantashchaasmi naagaanaam
varuno yaadasaamaham
pitreenaamaryamaa chaasmi
yamah samyamataamaham ॥ 10.29 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Among the nagas I am Ananta; among the beings of the waters I am Varuna; among the ancestors I am Aryaman; and among those who govern, I am Yama.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अनन्तः anantaḥ | Ananta |
| च ca | and |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| नागानाम् nāgānām | among the nāgas |
| वरुणः varuṇaḥ | Varuṇa |
| यादसाम् yādasām | among the beings of the waters |
| अहम् aham | I |
| पितॄणाम् pitṝṇām | among the ancestors |
| अर्यमा aryamā | Aryaman |
| च ca | and |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| यमः yamaḥ | Yama |
| संयमताम् saṃyamatām | among those who govern |
| अहम् aham | I |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–nan–taś–cās–mi nā–gā–nāṃ 8 syllables a-nan-tash-chaas-mi naa-gaa-naam
- va–ru–ṇo yā–da–sā–ma–ham | 8 syllables va-ru-no yaa-da-saa-ma-ham
- pi–tṝ–ṇā–mar–ya–mā cās–mi 8 syllables pi-tree-naa-mar-ya-maa chaas-mi
- ya–maḥ saṃ–ya–ma–tā–ma–ham || 10-29 8 syllables ya-mah sam-ya-ma-taa-ma-ham
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 29
Context
Krishna continues naming his glories (10.21–10.38).
Meaning
Ananta, the endless serpent on whom Viṣṇu rests, is chief of the nāgas; Varuṇa is lord of the waters; Aryaman presides over the ancestors; and Yama, lord of death and justice, is the foremost of those who enforce order.
Yama represents the inescapable law that brings every life to account. Even death and justice are expressions of the Divine order.
In Practice
Reflect on one area of your life that needs discipline and order, and bring it under gentle control today.
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.