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
ete hi devā vasavo vimānāny āsthāya sarve jvalitāgnikalpāḥ | antarhitās tvāṃ pratipālayanti kāṣṭhāṃ prapadyantam udakpatagbhām ||
Sapagkat ang mga diyos na ito—ang mga Vasu—ay nakasakay na sa kanilang mga sasakyang makalangit, nagliliyab na wari’y apoy na bagong sindi. Nananatiling di-nakikita sa himpapawid, binabantayan ka nila habang ikaw ay tumutungo sa hilagang landas, hinihintay ang iyong pagdating sa itinakdang dako.
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.