vṛiṣhṇīnāṁ vāsudevo ’smi pāṇḍavānāṁ dhanañjayaḥ
munīnām apyahaṁ vyāsaḥ kavīnām uśhanā kaviḥ
vṛiṣhṇīnām — amongst the descendants of Vrishni;
vāsudevaḥ — Krishna, the son of Vasudev;
asmi — I am;
pāṇḍavānām — amongst the Pandavas;
dhanañjayaḥ — Arjun, the conqueror of wealth;
munīnām — amongst the sages;
api — also;
aham — I;
vyāsaḥ — Ved Vyas;
kavīnām — amongst the great thinkers;
uśhanā — Shukracharya;
kaviḥ — the thinker
In this verse, Krishna is telling Arjuna about His various representations or forms. He starts by saying that among the descendants of a group called Vrishni, He is Vasudeva. This means that Krishna, who is considered the Supreme God, is the son of Vasudeva. Vasudeva is Krishna's earthly father, and Krishna represents the divine presence in the world.
Next, He mentions the Pandavas, who are a prominent family in the Mahabharata. Out of all the Pandavas, He specifies Arjuna, known for his bravery and skills as a warrior. Krishna is saying that He is Arjuna among the Pandavas, highlighting Arjuna’s importance and courage. Arjuna is not just a warrior; he plays a significant role in the teachings of the Gita as well. By saying this, Krishna is showing that He is present in Arjuna both as a friend and as a guiding force.
Then, Krishna speaks about sages, who are wise individuals that understand spiritual truths. Among them, Krishna identifies Himself as Vyasa. Vyasa is an important figure in the scriptures, credited with compiling the Vedas and writing the Mahabharata. His work makes deep spiritual knowledge accessible to regular people, especially in challenging times. Therefore, Krishna connects Himself to Vyasa to emphasize the importance of wisdom and knowledge in understanding the divine.
Lastly, Krishna mentions a thinker named Usana. Usana, also known as Shukracharya, was very wise and skilled in both spiritual teachings and practical affairs, like how to rule and govern. He taught the demons, who are often seen as the bad guys, which shows that wisdom can come from all sides. By stating that Usana is among the greatest thinkers, Krishna points out that intelligence and deep thinking are qualities He embodies.
Overall, this verse illustrates how Krishna is present in various forms; He is seen in noble figures like Arjuna and wise sages like Vyasa and Usana. It shows that divine presence and wisdom are not limited—Krishna is in every aspect of greatness, whether it's strength, knowledge, or deep thinking, reminding us that the divine can manifest through various channels in life, encouraging us to recognize and appreciate these qualities wherever they appear.