Shloka 22

वेदानां सामवेदो5स्मि देवानामस्मि वासव: । इन्द्रियाणां मनश्लास्मि भूतानामस्मि चेतना,मैं वेदोंमें सामवेद हूँ, देवोंमें इन्द्र हूँ, इन्द्रियोंमें मन हूँ और भूतप्राणियोंकी चेतना अर्थात्‌ जीवनी शक्ति हूँ

vedānāṁ sāmavedo 'smi devānām asmi vāsavaḥ | indriyāṇāṁ manaś cāsmi bhūtānām asmi cetanā ||

Among the Vedas I am the Sāma Veda; among the gods I am Vāsava (Indra). Among the senses I am the mind; and among living beings I am consciousness—the inner life-force.

वेदानाम्of the Vedas
वेदानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवेद
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
सामवेदःthe Sāmaveda
सामवेदः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसामवेद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अस्मिI am
अस्मि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, First, Singular
देवानाम्of the gods
देवानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
अस्मिI am
अस्मि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, First, Singular
वासवःVāsava (Indra)
वासवः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवासव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इन्द्रियाणाम्of the senses
इन्द्रियाणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootइन्द्रिय
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
मनःmind
मनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अस्मिI am
अस्मि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, First, Singular
भूतानाम्of beings/creatures
भूतानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootभूत
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
अस्मिI am
अस्मि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, First, Singular
चेतनाconsciousness; sentience
चेतना:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootचेतना
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular

अजुन उवाच

A
Arjuna
S
Sāma Veda
V
Vāsava (Indra)
M
mind (manas)
C
consciousness (cetanā)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that the supreme divine reality is present as the highest, most representative excellence within each category—scripture (Sāma Veda), divinity (Indra), inner faculties (mind), and life (consciousness). This cultivates reverence, humility, and a unifying vision that supports righteous action.

In the Bhīṣma Parva’s battlefield discourse, Arjuna is being instructed through a series of identifications that reveal how the divine pervades the world. The statement functions as a contemplative aid: by recognizing the divine in what is most eminent and vital, Arjuna is steadied for dharmic action amid war.