Bhagavad Gita — Vibhuti Yoga, Shloka 21

Vibhuti Yoga

Devanagari script

आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान् । मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी ॥ १०.२१ ॥

Transliteration

ādityānām ahaṃ viṣṇur jyotiṣāṃ ravir aṃśumān | marīcir marutām asmi nakṣatrāṇām ahaṃ śaśī || 10.21 ||

Translation

Among the Ādityas I am Viṣṇu; among luminaries I am the radiant Sun; among the Maruts I am Marīci; among the stars I am the Moon.

Gita Press 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.

Critical Edition Meaning

Among the Ādityas I am Viṣṇu; among luminous bodies I am the sun with rays; among the Maruts I am Marīci; among the constellations I am the moon.

Comparative Note

‘jyotiṣām’ can denote ‘lights’ broadly (luminaries) rather than abstract ‘light.’ ‘śaśī’ is the moon; some translations say ‘among stars I am the moon,’ though technically the moon is not a star—this reflects idiomatic grouping of celestial lights.

Word by Word

• आदित्यानाम्: of the Ādityas
• Root: आदित्य

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Root: अस्मद्

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta
• Root: विष्णु

• ज्योतिषाम्: of the luminaries (lights)
• Root: ज्योतिस्

• रविः: the Sun
• रविः: Karta
• Root: रवि

• अंशुमान्: radiant; possessing rays
• Root: अंशुमत्

• मरीचिः: Marīci
• मरीचिः: Karta
• Root: मरीचि

• मरुताम्: of the Maruts (storm-gods)
• Root: मरुत्

• अस्मि: am
• Root: √अस्

• नक्षत्राणाम्: of the stars/constellations
• Root: नक्षत्र

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Root: अस्मद्

• शशी: the Moon
• शशी: Karta
• Root: शशिन्

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Vibhuti
• Cosmic order
• Sacralization of nature

Key Themes

• Divinity as excellence within classes
• Symbolism of luminosity
• Mythic taxonomy as pedagogy

FAQs

Psychological significance?

Using prominent natural symbols (sun, moon) stabilizes attention and evokes clarity and regularity—qualities associated with disciplined understanding.

Metaphysical meaning?

The divine is indicated through the most eminent instance within a category; excellence functions as a sign (liṅga) of the sacred presence.

Contextual relevance?

This continues the illustrative list, drawing from Vedic-deity groupings (Ādityas, Maruts) familiar to early Indian audiences.

Modern Application?

Encourages a non-sectarian reverence for natural phenomena as reminders of intelligibility and value in the world.