पवनः पवतामस्मि रामः शस्त्रभृतामहम् । झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी ॥
pavanaḥ pavatāmasmi rāmaḥ śastrabhtāmaham | zhaṣāṇāṃ makaraścāsmi srotasāmasmi jāhnavī ||
Translation
Among the purifiers, I am the wind. Among warriors with weapons, I am Rama. Among fishes, I am the Makara. Among rivers, I am the Ganga.
Interpretation
Among purifiers, the Divine is the wind (pavana — the great purifier, that which purifies everything it touches). Among those who bear weapons (warriors), the Divine is Rama — the ideal king and warrior, the embodiment of dharma in human form. Among fish, the Divine is Makara — the great sea creature, the makara that forms part of the zodiac and is associated with Varuna. Among rivers, the Divine is the Ganga (Jahnavi) — the most sacred river, believed to flow from the feet of Vishnu and purify all who touch it.