Bhagavad Gita 10.23 रुद्राणां शङ्करश्चास्मि वित्तेशो

Bhagavad Gita 10.23 — word by word

Explanation

Among the Rudras I am Shankara, Krishna says; among the yakshas and rakshasas I am Kubera, lord of wealth. Among the Vasus I am fire, the purifier, and among mountain peaks I am Meru. Each is the foremost of its group, and through each the Divine can be remembered.

The Rudras are a group of eleven Vedic deities associated with storm and power; Shankara, the auspicious one, is Shiva, their chief. Kubera, called vitteśa, lord of wealth, rules the yakshas, semi-divine guardians of treasure, and is also counted lord of the rakshasas. The Vasus are eight Vedic gods of natural elements, and Pavaka, the purifier, is Agni, the fire god. Meru is the golden cosmic mountain at the centre of the world in Hindu cosmology. Commentators note that naming Shiva here shows the vibhūti list honouring the great deities of other traditions.

भावार्थ

ग्यारह रुद्रों में मैं शंकर हूँ, यक्षों और राक्षसों में धन के स्वामी कुबेर हूँ, आठ वसुओं में अग्नि हूँ और पर्वत-शिखरों में सुमेरु हूँ। सुमेरु पुराणों के अनुसार संसार के केन्द्र में स्थित स्वर्णमय पर्वत है।

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