Chapter 10 · Verse 31

Yoga through Appreciating the Infinite Opulences of God

पवनः पवतामस्मि रामः शस्त्रभृतामहम्। झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी

pavanaḥ pavatām asmi rāmaḥ śhastra-bhṛitām aham jhaṣhāṇāṁ makaraśh chāsmi srotasām asmi jāhnavī

Word Meanings

pavanaḥ pavatām asmi rāmaḥ śhastra-bhṛitām aham jhaṣhāṇām makaraḥ cha asmi srotasām asmi jāhnavī

Translation

Among purifiers, I am the wind; among warriors, I am Rama. Among aquatic creatures, I am the crocodile, and among rivers, I am the Ganges.

Commentary

पवनः the wind? पवताम् among purifiers or the speeders? अस्मि (I) am? रामः Rama? शस्त्रभृताम् among wielders of weapons (warriors)? अहम् I? झषाणाम् among fishes? मकरः Makara (shark)? च and? अस्मि (I) am? स्रोतसाम् among streams? अस्मि (I) am? जाह्नवी the Ganga.Commentary The holy river Ganga (spelt Ganges in English) was swallowed by Jahnu when she was being brought down by Bhagiratha from heaven. Hence the name Jahnavi for Ganga.