Verse 10.37
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोवस्मि पाण्डवानां धनंजयः | मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः कवीनामुशना कविः ||३७||
Transliteration (IAST)
vrsninam vasudevo 'smi pandavanam dhananjayah | muninam apy aham vyasah kavinam usana kavih ||37||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Among the Vrishnis I am Vasudeva; among the Pandavas I am Dhananjaya (Arjuna); among sages I am Vyasa; and among poets I am the poet Ushana.
Commentary
Krishna identifies Himself as Vasudeva among His own clan, and remarkably identifies Arjuna as His vibhuti among the Pandavas - a profound compliment to His devotee. Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas and author of the Mahabharata, represents the pinnacle of wisdom-literature. Ushana (Shukracharya) represents poetic genius. Shankaracharya notes that by naming Arjuna, Krishna shows that the devoted disciple is also a divine manifestation.