Bhagavad Gita BG 10.21
Chapter 10, Verse 21 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर् ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् । मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥
adityAnam aham Vishnur jyotisham ravir amshuMan Marichir marut'Am asmi nakshatAnam aham shashi
Meaning
Among the Adityas I am Vishnu; among lights I am the radiant sun; among the Maruts I am Marichi; among the stars I am the moon.
Understanding
The first group in the vibhuti catalog — celestial vibhutis. Among the twelve Adityas (solar deities) — Vishnu (the all-pervading, the supreme among them). Among jyotis (lights) — ravi amshumat (the radiant sun — the supreme light). Among the Maruts (storm/wind gods) — Marichi (the brightest of the Marut group). Among nakshatra (stars) — shashi (the moon — the most brilliant and influential of the stars). The pattern: I am the supreme, the most excellent, the most powerful in each category.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| आदित्यानाम् | adityAnam | among the Adityas (twelve solar deities) |
| ज्योतिषाम् | jyotisham | among lights/luminaries |
| अंशुमान् | amshuMan | radiant, with rays, brilliant |
| मरुताम् | marut'Am | among the Maruts (wind/storm gods) |
| नक्षत्राणाम् | nakshatAnam | among the stars/constellations |
| आदित्यानाम् | ādityānām | of the Adityas (solar gods) |
| अहम् | aham | I am |
| विष्णुः | viṣṇuḥ | Vishnu |
| ज्योतिषाम् | jyotiṣām | of lights |
| रविः | raviḥ | the sun |
| अंशुमान् | aṃśumān | radiant, the radiant one |
| मरीचिः | marīciḥ | Marichi (the wind-god) |
| मरुताम् | marutām | of the Maruts (wind-gods) |
| अस्मि | asmi | I am |
| नक्षत्राणाम् | nakṣatrāṇām | of the stars |
| अहम् | aham | I am |
| शशी | śaśī | the moon |