Chapter 10, Verse 37
वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि पाण्डवानां धनञ्जयः | मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः कवीनामुशना कविः ||१०-३७||
vṛṣṇīnāṃ vāsudevo.asmi pāṇḍavānāṃ dhanañjayaḥ . munīnāmapyahaṃ vyāsaḥ kavīnāmuśanā kaviḥ ||10-37||
Meaning
10.37 Among the Vrishnis I am Vaasudeva; among the Pandavas I am Arjuna; among the sages I am Vyasa; among the Poets I am Usanas, the poet.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
This verse carries a touch of intimate wonder. Among the Vrishni clan Krishna names Himself Vasudeva — that is, His own present form. And among the Pandavas, He says, 'I am Arjuna (Dhananjaya)' — pointing to the very friend who sits before Him asking the question.
There is profound teaching hidden in this tenderness. By naming Arjuna as His own glory, Krishna reveals the deep unity between the Divine and the sincere devotee. The seeker who turns wholly toward God is not separate from Him; the devotee becomes a vessel through which the Divine itself shines. Among the sages He is Vyasa, compiler of the eternal wisdom, and among the poet-seers, Ushana. The dear friend, the great sage, the inspired poet — all are faces of the one Lord who is, astonishingly, also seated as the Self within each of us.
💡 Key Takeaway
The sincere devotee is not separate from the Divine but becomes a vessel through which its light shines.
Related Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच | भूय एव महाबाहो शृणु मे परमं वचः | यत्तेऽहं प्रीयमाणाय वक्ष्यामि हितकाम्यया ||१०-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca . bhūya eva mahābāho śṛṇu me paramaṃ vacaḥ . yatte.ahaṃ prīyamāṇāya vakṣyāmi hitakāmyayā ||10-1||
10.1 The Blessed Lord said Again, O mighty-armed Arjuna, listen to my supreme word which I will declare to thee who who art beloved, for thy welfare.
न मे विदुः सुरगणाः प्रभवं न महर्षयः | अहमादिर्हि देवानां महर्षीणां च सर्वशः ||१०-२||
na me viduḥ suragaṇāḥ prabhavaṃ na maharṣayaḥ . ahamādirhi devānāṃ maharṣīṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ||10-2||
10.2 Neither the hosts of the gods nor the great sages know My origin; for in every way I am the source of all the gods and the great sages.
बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसम्मोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः | सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च ||१०-४||
buddhirjñānamasammohaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ damaḥ śamaḥ . sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ bhavo.abhāvo bhayaṃ cābhayameva ca ||10-4||
10.4 Intellect, wisdom, non-delusion, forgiveness, truth, self-restraint, calmness, happiness, pain, existence or birth, non-existence or death, fear and also fearlessness.