वृष्णीनां वासुदेवोऽस्मि पाण्डवानां धनञ्जयः । मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः कवीनामुशना कविः ॥
vṛṣṇīnāṃ vāsudevo'smi pāṇḍavānāṃ dhanañjayaḥ | munīnāmapyahaṃ vyāsaḥ kavīnāmuśanā kaviḥ ||
Translation
Among the Vrishnis, I am Vasudeva. Among the Pandavas, I am Dhananjaya (Arjuna). Among sages, I am Vyasa. Among poets, I am Ushanas (Shukracharya).
Interpretation
A remarkable personal touch: Krishna names himself (Vasudeva) as his own vibhuti among his clan (the Vrishnis). And then he names Arjuna himself as the Divine's vibhuti among the Pandavas — the highest compliment, a recognition that the student before him is himself a manifestation of the Divine's excellence. Among sages, Vyasa — the compiler of the Vedas and Mahabharata. Among poets and seers, Ushanas (Shukracharya) — the preceptor of the asuras and master of forbidden knowledge.