Bhagavad Gītā Chapter 10, Verse 21: Krishna to Arjuna — Vibhūti-Yoga

Bhāṣyakāra purports

• Śaṅkaraadvaita

  Among the twelve Ādityas (solar deities), I am the one named Viṣṇu (all-pervading). Among luminaries — the sources of light — I am Ravi (the sun), radiant with rays. Among the Maruts (storm-deity groups), I am Marīci (first among winds). Among the constellations, I am Śaśī (the moon). Śaṅkara's bhāṣya identifies each name precisely and without elaboration: these are simply the preeminent members of each cosmic class, pointing to the one Brahman that is the innermost reality of every vibhūti (divine manifest power).

• Rāmānujaviśiṣṭādvaita

  Among the twelve numbered Ādityas, I am the twelfth and most exalted — the one called Viṣṇu. Among all luminaries that illuminate this world, I am Aṃśumān Ravi, the solar host. Among the Maruts I am the most excellent, Marīci; among the constellations, I am Śaśī, the moon — their lord (nakṣatrāṇāṃ patiḥ). Rāmānuja reads the genitive as a genitive of lordship (sambandha-ṣaṣṭhī, not mere selection), so Bhagavān is not just the best specimen but the inner ruler of each class, the antaryāmin who sustains each cosmic order from within.

• Madhvadvaita

  I am Viṣṇu — he whose very name encodes all-pervasion (viṣlṛ: to pervade) and entry into all things (viś: to enter). Among Ādityas I am the one named Viṣṇu because the character of pervasion is intrinsic to this name alone, not shared by the other eleven. Among Maruts I am Marīci. Madhva anchors the name etymologically in the Mokṣadharma verse: it is by his pervading the two worlds and his surpassing radiance that he bears the name Viṣṇu — the jīva (individual soul) is eternally distinct and can only participate in this pervasion as dependent worshiper.

• Vallabhaśuddhādvaita

  Now Kṛṣṇa declares his vibhūti (manifest splendor). Among the twelve Ādityas I am Viṣṇu — some interpret this as the Vāmana avatāra. Among luminous things I am Aṃśumān Ravi. Among the Marut-devas the most excellent, Marīci, am I. Among constellations, Śaśī. Vallabha notes both readings of the genitive: it can be a genitive of selection (nirdhāraṇa-ṣaṣṭhī) as in 'best among' or a genitive of relation (sambandha-ṣaṣṭhī) as in BG 10.22 'I am consciousness among beings.' For Vallabha the listing is a cascade of Kṛṣṇa's own prasāda (grace-gift): each cosmic high-point is Kṛṣṇa's own liīlā-radiance breaking through.

• Śrīdharabhakti

  Among the twelve Ādityas I am Viṣṇu, the Vāmana avatāra. Among luminaries I am Ravi with rays pervading the universe (viśvavyāpaka-raśmiyukta). Among the Maruts — whether read as special devas or as the seven groups of seven winds (sapta-marut-gaṇāḥ: Āvaha, Pravaha, Vivaha, Parāvaha, Udvaha, Saṃvaha, Parivaha) — I am Marīci. Among constellations I am the moon. Śrīdhara adds: even avatāras such as Vāmana and Rāma are listed as vibhūtis here not in their full lordship but specifically for the purpose of meditation (dhyāna-vivakṣayā) on Kṛṣṇa's preeminent form.

• Madhusūdanaadvaita-bhakti

  For one unable to meditate on the formless Brahman, Kṛṣṇa prescribes outer supports (bāhyāni dhyānāni) until the end of the chapter. Among the twelve Ādityas, I am Viṣṇu by name — or the Vāmana avatāra. Among luminaries I am Ravi, the all-illuminating, world-pervading radiance. Among the forty-nine Maruts (sapta-saptaka groups) I am Marīci. Among constellations I am Śaśī, lord of the stars. Madhusūdana synthesizes: avatāras appear among vibhūtis for meditation purposes, just as Vāsudeva is listed among Vṛṣṇis — the infinite Brahman choosing to be apprehended through the highest finite forms.