A core teaching · expansive in mood · a little context helps
“Every radiance is a sign of one presence.”
Among the sons of Aditi, I am Vishnu; among radiant things, I am the sun with rays. I am the brilliance in the Maruts, and among stars, I am the moon.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallyamong the sons of Aditi · I am · Vishnu · among radiant things · the sun · having rays · the brilliance · of the Maruts · I am · among stars · I am · the moon
Krishna says he appears as Vishnu among the sons of Aditi, as the sun among bright things, as the Maruts' brilliance, and as the moon among stars.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vibhuti Yoga" (The Yoga of Divine Glories).
Verse 21 sits in Chapter 10 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vibhuti Yoga, "The Yoga of Divine Glories". The chapter has 42 verses in total.
On a village walk at dawn during Chhath, families stand in the river facing the rising sun. Krishna says to look at the sun's rays and the moon among stars and see him in them.
Did you like this verse?
Vishnu among the Adityas, the sun among lights, the moon among stars: Krishna names the brightest of each kind.
What this verse means
Krishna says he appears as Vishnu among the sons of Aditi, as the sun among bright things, as the Maruts' brilliance, and as the moon among stars.
Context & commentary
Krishna has begun describing how his presence fills the world. To Arjuna, he names familiar cosmic powers one by one, showing that the forces of light, brilliance, and order are expressions of him.
What it looks like today
On a village walk at dawn during Chhath, families stand in the river facing the rising sun. Krishna says to look at the sun's rays and the moon among stars and see him in them.
“The world is not separate from the divine presence you move through every day.”
Explore related themes: vibhuti (43 verses)