The brightest in every sky

ādityānāmahaṃ viṣṇurjyotiṣāṃ raviraṃśumānmarīcirmarutāmasmi nakṣatrāṇāmahaṃ śaśī

Among the sons of Aditi I am Vishnu. Among lights, the radiant sun. Among the storm winds, Marichi. Among the night lights, the moon.

What it means

Now the windows open. In each family of things, Krishna points to the best. Vishnu, chief of the gods of light. The blazing sun. The moon among the lamps of the night. The idea is simple. Wherever something shines brightest in its kind, that brilliance is his.

The story

Arjuna has begun many days with a march at dawn. Picture him now, watching the sun climb over the plain of Kurukshetra. Krishna is telling him that this light, falling on both armies alike, is a glimpse of him.

In your life

A night-shift baker steps out at dawn for air and watches the sun come up over an empty car park. Tomorrow, catch one sunrise or moonrise, and let it remind you.