Among the (twelve) Adityas, I am Vishnu; among luminaries, the radiant sun; I am Marichi among the (seven or forty-nine) Maruts; among stars the moon am I.
In simple words
Krishna identifies himself in the celestial realm: "Among the twelve sun gods, I am Vishnu. Among all sources of light, I am the radiant sun. Among the wind gods, I am Marichi. Among the stars, I am the moon."
Word-by-word meanings
आदित्यानम्among the Adityasअहम्Iविष्णुःVishnuज्योतिषाम्among lightsरविःthe sunअंशुमान्radiantमरीचिःMarichiमरुताम्of the Maruts (winds)अस्मि(I) amनक्षत्राणाम्among the starsअहम्Iशशीthe moon
10.21 आदित्यानम् among the Adityas? अहम् I? विष्णुः Vishnu? ज्योतिषाम् among lights? रविः the sun? अंशुमान् radiant? मरीचिः Marichi? मरुताम् of the Maruts (winds)? अस्मि (I) am? नक्षत्राणाम् among the stars? अहम् I? शशी the moon.Commentary Of the twelve Adityas I am the Aditya known as Vishnu? Dhata? Mitra? Aryama? Rudra? Varuna? Bhaga? Surya? Vivasvan? Pusham? Savita? Tvashta and Vishnu are the twelve Adityas. The twelve months of the year are the Adityas.The Maruts are the gods controlling the winds. Some hold that there are seven of them while others say there are fortynine.The twelve Adityas? the luminaries like Agni? lightning? etc.? the Maruts? the stars? etc.? are the Samanya Vibhutis (ordinary manifestations) of the Lord. Vishnu? the sun? Marichi? and the moon are His Visesha Vibhutis (special manifestations) and hence they have greater splendour in them.You can superimpose the Lord on the sun and the moon? and meditate on them as forms of the Lord. You can practise the same kind of meditation on all forms mentioned in the following verses of this chapter.
Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.
This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.
Modern
# BG 10.21
Among the Adityas, I am Vishnu. In the Vedic tradition, the number of Adityas is described variously—sometimes as five, sometimes as six. They were the sons of Aditi. Later, according to traditional belief, their number came to be established as twelve, representing the twelve months. According to the Vishnu Purana, there is an Aditya named Vishnu who is supreme and most significant among all the Adityas.
Among the luminous bodies, I am the Sun. Modern physical science itself recognizes the Sun as the source of all energy. Thus, the Lord's statement becomes self-evident. Wherever any energy manifests, its source is the atman itself.
Among the wind deities, I am Marichi. The presiding deities of the wind are called the Maruts, of whom forty-nine are said to exist. Among them, the Marut named Marichi am I. The Maruts are considered the sons of Rudra. According to the Rigveda, Marichi is foremost among them.
Among the stars, I am the Moon. In Indian astronomy, the term "star" refers to the lunar mansions—the twenty-seven asterisms along the Moon's path. From this perspective, the Moon's path in the universe is an expression of the Lord's glory, and the Moon is supreme among them, for it is the controller and regulator, and incomparable in its radiance.
Yet we may also accept the common understanding of the word "star"—the countless small, twinkling stars fixed in the night sky. Some commentators go further, saying that "stars" denotes all the lights of the night. This meaning too is acceptable for contemplation. The Moon's light that illuminates everything from a humble cottage to the parliament building is cool, peaceful, and majestic. In the same way, the light of the atman is incomparable.
In this sequence of twenty-two verses, Lord Sri Krishna presents seventy-five examples. His purpose is to aid the seeker walking the path of jnana yoga. Through these meditations, practitioners can organize their mind and intellect, thereby attaining concentration of consciousness. These seventy-five practices are useful for meditation.