अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानां वरुणो यादसामहम्। पितृ़णामर्यमा चास्मि यमः संयमतामहम्।।10.29।।
anantaḥ ca asmi nāgānāṁ varuṇo yādavasām aham; pitṛṇām aryamā ca asmi yamaḥ saṁyamatām aham
Translation
Among the serpents I am Ananta; among all water‑creatures I am Varuṇa. Among the ancestors I am Aryamā; among the regulators of law I am Yama, the lord of death.
Word Meanings
anantaḥ — Ananta; ca — also; asmi — I am; nāgānām — of the many‑hooded serpents; varuṇaḥ — the demigod controlling the water; yādavasām — of all aquatics; aham — I am; pitṝṇām — of the ancestors; aryamā — Aryamā; ca — also; asmi — I am; yamaḥ — the controller of death; saṁyamatām — of all regulators; aham — I am.
Understanding the Verse
In this verse of the Vibhūti‑yoga, Lord Krishna continues the litany of his divine manifestations, revealing how he pervades every class of existence. The first pair, "anantaś ca asmi nāgānām" and "varuṇo yādavasām", liken the Supreme to the endlessness (ananta) that is inherent in the many‑hooded serpents and to Varuṇa, the cosmic sovereign of waters. The serpent, a creature that can move both on earth and within the abyss, symbolizes the limitless, cyclical nature of consciousness. By declaring himself "ananta", Krishna emphasizes that his essence is boundless, transcending all forms and limitations. Varuṇa, overseeing the oceans, rivers, and all aquatic life, represents the regulating principle of the universe – the flow of time, nourishment, and the subtle currents that sustain life. This association signals that the divine sustains the very medium through which material existence is expressed.
The next pair shifts focus to the realm of the departed and the moral order. "Pitṛṇām aryamā ca asmi" indicates that among the ancestors (pitṛs) – the revered souls who have completed their earthly pilgrimage – Krishna is Aryamā, the chief of that class. Aryamā is traditionally viewed as the leader of the pitṛs, a guide who directs the souls toward appropriate after‑life realms. By identifying with Aryamā, Krishna affirms his role as the ultimate guardian of the departed, ensuring that the cycle of birth and death proceeds under divine supervision.
Finally, "yamaḥ saṁyamatām aham" links the Supreme with Yama, the dispenser of law and the lord of death. Yama not only enforces moral order but also administers the transition from life to the beyond. The qualifier "saṁyamatām" – ‘of all regulators’ – underscores that Yama embodies the principle of justice that pervades the cosmos. Through this identification, Krishna conveys that the very authority that upholds dharma (righteousness) originates from the divine source.
Collectively, these identifications illustrate the all‑pervasive nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whether one examines the micro‑cosm of serpents, the macro‑cosm of oceans, the ancestry of souls, or the metaphysical law of death, each facet is a manifestation of the same ultimate reality. The verse encourages seekers to recognize the divine thread that connects disparate aspects of existence, fostering reverence for the unity underlying apparent diversity. By contemplating these divine forms, a devotee deepens insight into the pervasive presence of the Lord, nurturing devotion (bhakti) that transcends mere intellectual acknowledgment and blossoms into lived experience.
