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Bhagavad Geeta · Krishna

Chapter 11

विश्वरूपदर्शनयोग

Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God

Verses

  1. Verse 1

    arjuna uvāca madanugrahāya paramaṃ guhyam adhyātmasaṃjñitam| yat tvayoktaṃ vacas tena moho 'yaṃ vigato mama||11.1||

    Meaning

    Arjuna said: My Lord! Your words concerning the Supreme Secret of Self, given for my blessing, have dispelled the illusions that surrounded me.

  2. Verse 2

    bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṃ śrutau vistaraśo mayā| tvattaḥ kamalapatrākṣa māhātmyam api cāvyayam||11.2||

    Meaning

    O Lord, whose eyes are like the lotus petal! You have described in detail the origin and dissolution of beings, and Your own Eternal Majesty.

  3. Verse 3

    evam etad yathāttha tvam ātmānaṃ parameśvara| draṣṭum icchāmi te rūpam aiśvaraṃ puruṣottama||11.3||

    Meaning

    I believe all as you have declared it. I now long to have a vision of your divine form, O Most High!

  4. Verse 4

    manyase yadi tac chakyaṃ mayā draṣṭum iti prabho| yogeśvara tato me tvaṃ darśayā'tmānam avyayam||11.4||

    Meaning

    If you think it is possible for me to see it, show me, O Lord of Lords, your eternal self.

  5. Verse 5

    śrī bhagavān uvāca paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ| nānāvidhāni divyāni nānāvarṇākṛtīni ca||11.5||

    Meaning

    Lord Shri Krishna replied: "Behold, O Arjuna! My celestial forms, by the hundreds and thousands, various in kind, colour, and shape."

  6. Verse 6

    paśyādityān vasūn rudrān aśvinau marutas tathā| bahūny adṛṣṭapūrvāṇi paśyā'ścaryāṇi bhārata||11.6||

    Meaning

    Behold, thou seest the powers of Nature: fire, earth, wind, and sky; the sun, the heavens, the moon, the stars; all forces of vitality and healing; and the roving winds. Behold, thou seest the myriad wonders revealed to none but thee.

  7. Verse 7

    ihaikasthaṃ jagat kṛtsnaṃ paśyādya sacarācaram| mama dehe guḍākeśa yac cānyad draṣṭum icchasi||11.7||

    Meaning

    Here, living in Me, O Arjuna, behold the entire universe, both movable and immovable, and anything else you would like to see!

  8. Verse 8

    na tu māṃ śakyase draṣṭum anenaiva svacakṣuṣā| divyaṃ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya me yogam aiśvaram||11.8||

    Meaning

    Yet, since you cannot see Me with mortal eyes, behold, I give you divine sight. Now, see the glory of My sovereignty.

  9. Verse 9

    sañjaya uvāca evam uktvā tato rājan mahāyogeśvaro hariḥ| darśayām āsa pārthāya paramaṃ rūpam aiśvaram||11.9||

    Meaning

    Sanjaya continued: "Having thus spoken, O King, the Lord Shri Krishna, the Almighty Prince of Wisdom, showed Arjuna the Supreme Form of the Great God.

  10. Verse 10

    anekavaktranayanam anekādbhutadarśanam| anekadivyābharaṇaṃ divyānekodyatāyudham||11.10||

    Meaning

    There were countless eyes, mouths, and innumerable mystic forms, with shining ornaments and flaming celestial weapons.

  11. Verse 11

    divyamālyāmbaradharaṃ divyagandhānulepanam| sarvāścaryamayaṃ devam anantaṃ viśvatomukham||11.11||

    Meaning

    Crowned with heavenly garlands, clothed in shining garments, anointed with divine unguents, He showed Himself as the Resplendent One, Marvellous, Boundless, and Omnipresent.

  12. Verse 12

    divi sūryasahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthitā| yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syād bhāsas tasya mahātmanaḥ||11.12||

    Meaning

    Could a thousand suns blaze forth together, it would be but a faint reflection of the radiance of the Lord God.

  13. Verse 13

    tatraikasthaṃ jagat kṛtsnaṃ pravibhaktam anekadhā| apaśyad devadevasya śarīre pāṇḍavas tadā||11.13||

    Meaning

    In that vision, Arjuna saw the universe, with its manifold shapes, all embraced in one, its Supreme Lord.

  14. Verse 14

    tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo hṛṣṭaromā dhanañjayaḥ| praṇamya śirasā devaṃ kṛtāñjalir abhāṣata||11.14||

    Meaning

    Then, Arjuna, filled with awe, his hair standing on end, bowing his head, and clasping his hands in reverence, spoke to the Lord:

  15. Verse 15

    arjuna uvāca paśyāmi devāṃs tava deva dehe sarvāṃs tathā bhūtaviśeṣasaṅghān| brahmāṇam īśaṃ kamalāsanastha m ṛṣīṃś ca sarvān uragāṃś ca divyān||11.15||

    Meaning

    Arjuna said: O Almighty God! I see in You the powers of Nature, the various creatures of the world, the Progenitor on His lotus throne, the Sages, and the shining angels.

  16. Verse 16

    anekabāhūdaravaktranetraṃ paśyāmi tvāṃ sarvato 'nantarūpam| nāntaṃ na madhyaṃ na punas tavādiṃ paśyāmi viśveśvara viśvarūpa||11.16||

    Meaning

    I see You, infinite in form, with faces, eyes, and limbs everywhere; with no beginning, middle, or end. O You, Lord of the Universe, whose form is universal!

  17. Verse 17

    kirīṭinaṃ gadinaṃ cakriṇaṃ ca tejorāśiṃ sarvato dīptimantam| paśyāmi tvāṃ durnirīkṣyaṃ samantā d dīptānalārkadyutim aprameyam||11.17||

    Meaning

    I see you with the crown, the sceptre, and the discus; a blaze of splendour. Scarcely can I gaze upon you, so radiant you are, glowing like a blazing fire, brilliant as the sun, immeasurable.

  18. Verse 18

    tvam akṣaraṃ paramaṃ veditavyaṃ tvam asya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam| tvam avyayaḥ śāśvatadharmagoptā sanātanas tvaṃ puruṣo mato me||11.18||

    Meaning

    You are imperishable, the only one worthy of being known, the priceless treasure-house of the universe, the immortal guardian of eternal righteousness, and the everlasting spirit.

  19. Verse 19

    anādimadhyāntamanantavīrya manantabāhuṃ śaśisūryanetram| paśyāmi tvāṃ dīptahutāśavaktram svatejasā viśvamidaṃ tapantam||11.19||

    Meaning

    Without beginning, without middle, and without end, infinite in power, with arms all-embracing, the sun and moon as Your eyes, Your face beaming with the fire of sacrifice, flooding the whole universe with light.

  20. Verse 20

    dyāv āpṛthivyor idam antaraṃ hi vyāptaṃ tvayaikena diśaś ca sarvāḥ| dṛṣṭvā'dbhutaṃ rūpam ugraṃ tavedaṃ lokatrayaṃ pravyathitaṃ mahātman||11.20||

    Meaning

    Alone, you fill all the quarters of the sky, earth, and heaven, and the regions between. O Almighty Lord! Seeing your marvellous and awe-inspiring form, the spheres tremble with fear.

  21. Verse 21

    amī hi tvāṃ surasaṅghāḥ viśanti kecidbhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti| svastītyuktvā maharṣisiddhasaṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṃ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ||11.21||

    Meaning

    The troops of celestial beings enter into You, some invoking You in fear, with folded palms; the great seers and adepts sing hymns to Your glory, saying, "All hail!"

  22. Verse 22

    rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā viśve 'śvinau marutaś coṣmapāś ca| gandharvayakṣāsurasiddhasaṅghā vīkṣante tvāṃ vismitāś caiva sarve||11.22||

    Meaning

    The vital forces, major stars, fire, earth, air, sky, sun, heaven, moon, and planets; the angels, guardians of the universe, divine healers, winds, fathers, heavenly singers, and hosts of mammon-worshippers, demons, and saints are all amazed.

  23. Verse 23

    rūpaṃ mahat te bahuvaktranetraṃ mahābāho bahubāhūrupādam| bahūdaraṃ bahudaṃṣṭrākarālaṃ dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathā'ham||11.23||

    Meaning

    Seeing Thy stupendous Form, O Most Mighty One, with its myriad faces, its innumerable eyes, limbs, and terrible jaws, I myself and all the worlds are overwhelmed with awe.

  24. Verse 24

    nabhaḥspṛśaṃ dīptam anekavarṇaṃ vyāttānanaṃ dīptaviśālanetram| dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṃ pravyathitāntarātmā dhṛtiṃ na vindāmi śamaṃ ca viṣṇo||11.24||

    Meaning

    When I see You, touching the heavens, glowing with colour, with open mouth and wide, fiery eyes, I am terrified. O my Lord! My courage and peace of mind abandon me.

  25. Verse 25

    daṃṣṭrākarālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvaiva kālānalasannibhāni| diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa||11.25||

    Meaning

    When I see Thy mouths with their fearful jaws, like glowing fires at the dissolution of creation, I lose all sense of place and find no rest. Be merciful, O Lord, in whom this universe abides!

  26. Verse 26

    amī ca tvāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ sarve sahaivāvanipālasaṅghaiḥ| bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sūtaputrastathā'sau sahāsmadīyairapi yodhamukhyaiḥ||11.26||

    Meaning

    All these sons of Dhritarashtra, along with the hosts of princes, Bheeshma, Drona, and Karna, as well as the other warrior chiefs on our side;

  27. Verse 27

    vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti daṃṣṭrākarālāni bhayānakāni| kecid vilagnā daśanāntareṣu saṃdṛśyante cūrṇitair uttamāṅgaiḥ||11.27||

    Meaning

    See them all rushing headlong into Thy mouths, with terrible tusks, horrible to behold. Some are mangled between Thy jaws, with their heads crushed to atoms.

  28. Verse 28

    yathā nadīnāṃ bahavo'mbuvegāḥ samudramevābhimukhāḥ dravanti| tathā tavāmī naralokavīrā viśanti vaktrāṇyabhivijvalanti||11.28||

    Meaning

    As rivers in flood surge furiously towards the ocean, so these heroes, the greatest among men, fling themselves into Thy flaming mouths.

  29. Verse 29

    yathā pradīptaṃ jvalanaṃ pataṅgā viśanti nāśāya samṛddhavegāḥ| tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokā s tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddhavegāḥ||11.29||

    Meaning

    As moths impetuously fly towards the flame, only to be killed, so these men rush into Your mouths to court their own destruction.

  30. Verse 30

    lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantā l lokān samagrān vadanair jvaladbhiḥ| tejobhir āpūrya jagat samagraṃ bhāsas tavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo||11.30||

    Meaning

    You seem to swallow up the worlds, lapping them in flame. Your glory fills the universe. Your fierce rays beat down upon it irresistibly.

  31. Verse 31

    ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugrarūpo namo 'stu te devavara prasīda| vijñātum icchāmi bhavantam ādyaṃ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim||11.31||

    Meaning

    Tell me then, who are You, who wears this dreadful form? I bow before You, O Mighty One! Have mercy, I pray, and let me see You as You were at first. I do not know what Your intentions are.

  32. Verse 32

    śrī bhagavān uvāca kālo 'smi lokakṣayakṛt pravṛddho lokān samāhartum iha pravṛttaḥ| ṛte 'pi tvāṃ na bhaviṣyanti sarve ye 'vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ||11.32||

    Meaning

    Lord Shri Krishna replied: I have shown myself to you as the Destroyer who lays waste the world and whose purpose is destruction. In spite of your efforts, all these warriors gathered for battle shall not escape death.

  33. Verse 33

    tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṃ samṛddham| mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva nimittamātraṃ bhava savyasācin||11.33||

    Meaning

    Then gird up your loins and conquer. Subdue your foes and enjoy the kingdom in prosperity. I have already doomed them. Be thou my instrument, Arjuna!

  34. Verse 34

    droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca karṇaṃ tathā'nyān api yodhavīrān| mayā hatāṃs tvaṃ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān||11.34||

    Meaning

    Drona, Bheeshma, Jayadratha, Karna, and other brave warriors - I have condemned them all. Destroy them; fight without fear. Your foes shall be crushed."

  35. Verse 35

    sañjaya uvāca etac chrutvā vacanaṃ keśavasya kṛtāñjalir vepamānaḥ kirīṭī| namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṃ sagadgadaṃ bhītabhītaḥ praṇamya||11.35||

    Meaning

    Sanjaya continued: "Having heard these words from the Lord Shri Krishna, the Prince Arjuna, with folded hands trembling, prostrated himself and with a choked voice, bowing down again and again, and overwhelmed with awe, once more addressed the Lord.

  36. Verse 36

    arjuna uvāca sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā jagat prahṛṣyaty anurajyate ca| rakṣāṃsi bhītāni diśo dravanti sarve namasyanti ca siddhasaṅghāḥ||11.36||

    Meaning

    Arjuna said: My Lord! It is natural for the world to revel and rejoice when singing praises of Your glory; the demons fly in fear and the saints offer You their salutations.

  37. Verse 37

    kasmāc ca te na nameran mahātman garīyase brahmaṇo 'py ādikartre| ananta deveśa jagannivāsa tvam akṣaraṃ sadasat tat paraṃ yat||11.37||

    Meaning

    How else should they do? O Supreme Self, greater than the powers of creation, the first cause, infinite, the Lord of Lords, the home of the universe, imperishable, being and non-being, yet transcending both.

  38. Verse 38

    tvam ādidevaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇa s tvam asya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam| vettāsi vedyaṃ ca paraṃ ca dhāma tvayā tataṃ viśvam anantarūpa||11.38||

    Meaning

    You are the Primal God, the Ancient One, the Supreme Abode of this universe, the Knower, the Knowledge, and the Final Home. You fill everything. Your form is infinite.

  39. Verse 39

    vāyur yamo 'gnir varuṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ prajāpatis tvaṃ prapitāmahaś ca| namo namas te 'stu sahasrakṛtvaḥ punaś ca bhūyo 'pi namo namas te||11.39||

    Meaning

    You are the wind, you are death, you are the fire, the water, the moon, the father, and the grandfather. Honour and glory to you a thousand and a thousand times! Again and again, salutations to you, O my Lord!

  40. Verse 40

    namaḥ purastād atha pṛṣṭhatas te namo 'stu te sarvata eva sarva| anantavīryāmitavikramas tvaṃ sarvaṃ samāpnoṣi tato 'si sarvaḥ||11.40||

    Meaning

    Salutations to Thee in front and on all sides, Thou who encompassest me round about. Thy power is infinite; Thy majesty immeasurable; Thou upholdest all things; indeed, Thou Thyself art All.

  41. Verse 41

    sakheti matvā prasabhaṃ yad uktaṃ he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakheti| ajānatā mahimānaṃ tavedaṃ mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi||11.41||

    Meaning

    Whatever I have said to you in rashness, taking you only as a friend and addressing you as "O Krishna! O Yadava! O Friend!" in thoughtless familiarity, without understanding your greatness;

  42. Verse 42

    yac cāvahāsārtham asatkṛto 'si vihāraśayyāsanabhojaneṣu| eko 'tha vāpy acyuta tatsamakṣaṃ tat kṣāmaye tvām aham aprameyam||11.42||

    Meaning

    Whatever insults I have offered to You in jest, in sport, in repose, in conversation, or at a banquet, alone or in a crowd, I ask for Your forgiveness for them all, O You Who are without equal!

  43. Verse 43

    pitāsi lokasya carācarasya tvam asya pūjyaś ca gurur garīyān| na tvatsamo 'sty abhyadhikaḥ kuto 'nyo lokatraye 'py apratimaprabhāva||11.43||

    Meaning

    For you are the Father of all things movable and immovable, the Worshipful, the Master of Masters! In all the worlds, there is none equal to you; how then could there be one superior, O you who stand alone, Supreme?

  44. Verse 44

    tasmāt praṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṃ prasādaye tvām aham īśam īḍyam| piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum||11.44||

    Meaning

    Therefore, I prostrate myself before You, O Lord! Most Adorable! I salute You, and I ask for Your blessing. Only You can be trusted to bear with me, like a father to a son, like a friend to a friend, and like a lover to his beloved.

  45. Verse 45

    adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ hṛṣito 'smi dṛṣṭvā bhayena ca pravyathitaṃ mano me| tad eva me darśaya deva rūpaṃ prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa||11.45||

    Meaning

    I rejoice that I have seen what no man has ever seen before; yet, O Lord! I am overwhelmed with fear. Please take on the form I know. Be merciful, O Lord! You who are the home of the entire universe.

  46. Verse 46

    kirīṭinaṃ gadinaṃ cakrahasta m icchāmi tvāṃ draṣṭum ahaṃ tathaiva| tenaiva rūpeṇa caturbhujena sahasrabāho bhava viśvamūrte||11.46||

    Meaning

    I long to see Thee as Thou wert before, with the crown, the sceptre, and the discus in Thy hands; in Thy other form, with Thy four hands, O Thou whose arms are countless and whose forms are infinite.

  47. Verse 47

    śrī bhagavān uvāca mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṃ rūpaṃ paraṃ darśitam ātmayogāt| tejomayaṃ viśvam anantam ādyaṃ yan me tvad anyena na dṛṣṭapūrvam||11.47||

    Meaning

    Lord Shri Krishna replied: My beloved friend! It is only through My grace and power that you have been able to see this vision of splendour, the Universal, the Infinite, the Original. Never has it been seen by anyone else.

  48. Verse 48

    na vedayajñādhyayanair na dānai r na ca kriyābhir na tapobhir ugraiḥ| evaṃrūpaḥ śakya ahaṃ nṛloke draṣṭuṃ tvad anyena kurupravīra||11.48||

    Meaning

    It is not possible for man on earth to see what thou hast seen, O thou foremost hero of the Kuru-clan, through study of the scriptures, sacrifice or gift, ritual or rigorous austerity!

  49. Verse 49

    mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍhabhāvo dṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ ghoram īdṛṅ mamedam| vyapetabhīḥ prītamanāḥ punas tvaṃ tad eva me rūpam idaṃ prapaśya||11.49||

    Meaning

    Do not be afraid or confused by the terrible vision. Put away your fear and, with a joyful mind, see Me again in My usual form.

  50. Verse 50

    sañjaya uvāca ity arjunaṃ vāsudevas tathoktvā svakaṃ rūpaṃ darśayām āsa bhūyaḥ| āśvāsayām āsa ca bhītam enaṃ bhūtvā punaḥ saumyavapur mahātmā||11.50||

    Meaning

    Sanjaya continued: "Having thus spoken to Arjuna, Lord Shri Krishna showed Himself again in His accustomed form; and the Mighty Lord, in gentle tones, softly consoled him who had recently trembled with fear.

  51. Verse 51

    arjuna uvāca dṛṣṭvedaṃ mānuṣaṃ rūpaṃ tava saumyaṃ janārdana| idānīm asmi saṃvṛttaḥ sacetāḥ prakṛtiṃ gataḥ||11.51||

    Meaning

    Arjuna said: Seeing You in Your gentle human form, my Lord, I am myself again, calm once more.

  52. Verse 52

    śrī bhagavān uvāca sudurdarśam idaṃ rūpaṃ dṛṣṭavān asi yan mama| devā apy asya rūpasya nityaṃ darśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ||11.52||

    Meaning

    Lord Shri Krishna replied: It is difficult to see the vision of Me that thou hast seen. Even the most powerful have longed for it in vain.

  53. Verse 53

    nāhaṃ vedair na tapasā na dānena na cejyayā| śakya evaṃvidho draṣṭuṃ dṛṣṭavān asi māṃ yathā||11.53||

    Meaning

    It is not possible to see Me as you have done through studying the scriptures, performing austerities, giving gifts, or making sacrifices.

  54. Verse 54

    bhaktyā tv ananyayā śakya aham evaṃvidho 'rjuna| jñātuṃ draṣṭuṃ ca tattvena praveṣṭuṃ ca paraṃtapa||11.54||

    Meaning

    Only through tireless devotion can I be seen and known; only in this way can a person become one with Me, O Arjuna!

  55. Verse 55

    matkarmakṛn matparamo madbhaktaḥ saṅgavarjitaḥ| nirvairaḥ sarvabhūteṣu yaḥ sa mām eti pāṇḍava||11.55||

    Meaning

    He who does every action for My sake, to whom I am the final goal, who loves Me alone and hates no one—O My dearest son, only he can realize Me!

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