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. Hover 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.
You step outside after a sleepless night and the morning light hits your face. The warmth, the brightness, the quiet order in it all can feel like more than weather — like presence.
Did you like this verse?
It shifts attention from isolated objects to the sacred source shining through them.
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
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Krishna has begun revealing 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 not random—they are expressions of him.
Why this verse still matters
You step outside after a sleepless night and the morning light hits your face. The warmth, the brightness, the quiet order in it all can feel like more than weather — like presence.
“The world is not separate from the divine presence you move through every day.”
Explore related themes: vibhuti (43 verses)