Bhagavad Gita — Vibhuti Yoga, Shloka 23

Vibhuti Yoga

Devanagari script

रुद्राणां शंकरश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम् । वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरुः शिखरिणामहम् ॥ १०.२३ ॥

Transliteration

rudrāṇāṃ śaṅkaraś cāsmi vitteśo yakṣa-rakṣasām | vasūnāṃ pāvakaś cāsmi meruḥ śikhariṇām aham || 10.23 ||

Translation

在诸鲁陀罗中，我是商羯罗；在夜叉与罗刹之中，我是财宝之主（俱毗罗）；在诸婆苏中，我是火；在群山之中，我是须弥山（梅鲁）。

Gita Press Meaning

Among the Rudras I am Shankara; among the Yakshas and Rakshasas I am the lord of wealth (Kubera); among the Vasus I am fire; among mountains I am Meru.

Critical Edition Meaning

Among the Rudras I am Śaṅkara; among Yakṣas and Rākṣasas I am the Lord of wealth; among the Vasus I am Pāvaka (fire); among peaks I am Meru.

Comparative Note

‘vitteśa’ is commonly identified with Kubera. ‘yakṣa-rakṣasa’ here functions as a mythic category rather than a moral judgment; the verse uses well-known cosmological groupings to convey ‘the eminent within each class.’

Word by Word

• रुद्राणाम्: of the Rudras
• Root: रुद्र

• शंकरः: Shankara (Śiva)
• शंकरः: Karta
• Root: शंकर

• च: and
• Root: च

• अस्मि: I am
• Root: √अस्

• वित्तेशः: the lord of wealth (Kubera)
• वित्तेशः: Karta
• Root: वित्तेश

• यक्षरक्षसाम्: of the Yakṣas and the Rākṣasas
• Root: यक्षरक्षस

• वसूनाम्: of the Vasus
• Root: वसु

• पावकः: Pāvaka (Agni, fire)
• पावकः: Karta
• Root: पावक

• च: and
• Root: च

• अस्मि: I am
• Root: √अस्

• मेरुः: Meru (the cosmic mountain)
• मेरुः: Karta
• Root: मेरु

• शिखरिणाम्: of the peak-bearing ones (mountains)
• Root: शिखरिन्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Root: अहम्

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Vibhuti
• Mythic cosmology
• Symbolic eminence

Key Themes

• Divinity across diverse beings
• Natural-symbolic grandeur
• Cultural literacy of deity lists

FAQs

Psychological significance?

The verse associates the sacred with archetypal images (ascetic power, wealth stewardship, transformative fire, lofty mountain), which can organize values and aspirations.

Metaphysical meaning?

The divine is presented as the highest expression across heterogeneous domains, suggesting a unifying ground behind varied forms.

Contextual relevance?

It continues the structured catalogue, drawing from Purāṇic/Vedic mythic taxonomies familiar in classical Indian thought.

Modern Application?

Can be read as an invitation to recognize excellence and responsibility (e.g., wealth stewardship) as spiritually meaningful.