Shloka 15
Bhīṣma’s Hymn to Viṣṇu and Kṛṣṇa’s Criteria for Divine Self-Disclosure
एते हि देवा वसवो विमाना- न्यास्थाय सर्वे ज्वलिताग्निकल्पा: | अन्तर्हितास्त्वां प्रतिपालयन्ति काष्ठां प्रपद्यन्तमुदक्पतज्भम्,देखिये, ये प्रज्वलित अग्निके समान तेजस्वी देवता और वसु विमानोंमें बैठकर आकाशमें अदृश्यरूपसे रहते हुए सूर्य उत्तरायण होने और आपके आनेकी बाट जोहते हैं
ete hi devā vasavo vimānāny āsthāya sarve jvalitāgnikalpāḥ | antarhitās tvāṃ pratipālayanti kāṣṭhāṃ prapadyantam udakpatagbhām ||
Denn diese Götter — die Vasus — sind alle auf ihre himmlischen Wagen gestiegen, lodernd wie entzündetes Feuer. Unsichtbar am Himmel wachen sie über dich, während du dem nördlichen Lauf entgegengehst, und erwarten deine Ankunft in jener vom Schicksal bestimmten Himmelsgegend.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames human movement toward a destined ‘direction/time’ as being overseen by cosmic powers: divine forces remain vigilant and supportive when one proceeds in alignment with the larger order (ṛta/dharma), suggesting that right timing and right orientation are ethically and spiritually significant.
Vāyudeva describes how the Vasus and other gods, radiant like fire and seated in their celestial vehicles, stay hidden in the sky while watching and waiting for the addressed person to reach the northern course/quarter—an image associated with auspicious transition and a divinely witnessed passage.