In Bhagavad Gita 10.37, Krishna says that among the Vrishnis he is Vasudeva, among the Pandavas Dhananjaya, among sages Vyasa, and among poets the poet Ushana.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि
पाण्डवानां धनञ्जयः
मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः
कवीनामुशना कविः ॥ १०-३७ ॥
vṛṣṇīnāṃ vāsudevo’smi
pāṇḍavānāṃ dhanañjayaḥ
munīnāmapyahaṃ vyāsaḥ
kavīnāmuśanā kaviḥ
English transliteration vrishneenaam vaasudevo’smi
paandavaanaam dhananjayah
muneenaamapyaham vyaasah
kaveenaamushanaa kavih ॥ 10.37 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Among the Vrishnis I am Vasudeva; among the Pandavas, Dhananjaya; among the sages I am Vyasa; and among the poets, the poet Ushana.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| वृष्णीनाम् vṛṣṇīnām | among the Vṛṣṇis |
| वासुदेवः vāsudevaḥ | Vāsudeva |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| पाण्डवानाम् pāṇḍavānām | among the Pāṇḍavas |
| धनञ्जयः dhanañjayaḥ | Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) |
| मुनीनाम् munīnām | among the sages |
| अपि api | also |
| अहम् aham | I |
| व्यासः vyāsaḥ | Vyāsa |
| कवीनाम् kavīnām | among the poets |
| उशना uśanā | Uśanā (Śukrācārya) |
| कविः kaviḥ | the poet |
Word-wise Chanting
- vṛṣ–ṇī–nāṃ vā–su–de–vo–‘smi 8 syllables vrish-nee-naam vaa-su-de-vo-‘smi
- pāṇ–ḍa–vā–nāṃ dha–nañ–ja–yaḥ | 8 syllables paan-da-vaa-naam dha-nan-ja-yah
- mu–nī–nā–map–ya–haṃ vyā–saḥ 8 syllables mu-nee-naa-map-ya-ham vyaa-sah
- ka–vī–nā–mu–śa–nā ka–viḥ || 10-37 8 syllables ka-vee-naa-mu-sha-naa ka-vih
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 37
Context
Krishna continues naming his glories (10.21–10.38).
Meaning
Krishna names himself, Vāsudeva, among his own clan of the Vṛṣṇis, and Arjuna himself, Dhanañjaya, among the Pāṇḍavas. Vyāsa, the compiler of the Vedas and the Mahābhārata, is first among sages, and Uśanā, the wise teacher Śukrācārya, is first among seers.
Arjuna is told that he himself is a manifestation of the Divine. This is both an honour and a responsibility.
In Practice
Recognise one quality in yourself that is a gift of the Divine, and live up to it 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.