Chapter 11 of 18

विश्वरूपदर्शनयोग Vishwaroopa Darshana Yoga

Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God. 55 verses.

About this chapter

The eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is "Vishwaroopa Darshana Yoga". In this chapter, Arjuna requests Krishna to reveal His Universal Cosmic Form that encompasses all the universes, the entire existence. Arjuna is granted divine vision to be able to see the entirety of creation in the body of the Supreme Lord Krishna.

11.1मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम्।mad-anugrahāya paramaṁ guhyam adhyātma-sanjñitamArjuna said, By this explanation of the highest secret concerning the Self which Thou hast spoken, for the sake of blessing me, my delusion has been dispelled.
11.2भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया।bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṁ śhrutau vistaraśho mayāThe origin and destruction of beings have been heard in detail from You, O lotus-eyed Lord, and also Your inexhaustible greatness.
11.3एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर।evam etad yathāttha tvam ātmānaṁ parameśhvaraNow, O Supreme Lord, as Thou hast thus described Thyself, O Supreme Person, I wish to behold Thy divine form.
11.4मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो।manyase yadi tach chhakyaṁ mayā draṣhṭum iti prabhoIf Thou, O Lord, thinkest it possible for me to see it, do Thou, then, O Lord of the Yogis, show me Thy imperishable Self.
11.5पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः।paśhya me pārtha rūpāṇi śhataśho ’tha sahasraśhaḥThe Blessed Lord said, "Behold, O Arjuna, forms of Mine, by the hundreds and thousands, of different sorts, divine, and of various colors and shapes."
11.6पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्िवनौ मरुतस्तथा।paśhyādityān vasūn rudrān aśhvinau marutas tathāBehold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Asvins, and the Maruts; behold many wonders never before seen, O Arjuna.
11.7इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम्।ihaika-sthaṁ jagat kṛitsnaṁ paśhyādya sa-charācharamNow, behold, O Arjuna, in this My body, the entire universe centered in one, including the moving and the unmoving, and whatever else you desire to see.
11.8न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा।na tu māṁ śhakyase draṣhṭum anenaiva sva-chakṣhuṣhāBut you are not able to behold Me with these your own eyes; I give you the divine eye; behold My lordly Yoga.
11.9एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः।evam uktvā tato rājan mahā-yogeśhvaro hariḥSanjaya said, Having thus spoken, O king, the great Lord of Yoga, Hari (Krishna), showed Arjuna His supreme form as the Lord.
11.10अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम्।aneka-vaktra-nayanam anekādbhuta-darśhanamWith numerous mouths and eyes, with numerous wondrous sights, with numerous divine adornments, with numerous divine weapons uplifted, such a form He showed.
11.11दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्।divya-mālyāmbara-dharaṁ divya-gandhānulepanamWearing divine garlands and apparel, anointed with divine unguents, the all-wonderful, resplendent Being is endless with faces on all sides.
11.12दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता।divi sūrya-sahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthitāIf the splendour of a thousand suns were to blaze out simultaneously in the sky, that would be the splendour of that mighty being.
11.13तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा।tatraika-sthaṁ jagat kṛitsnaṁ pravibhaktam anekadhāThere, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna then saw the entire universe resting in one, with its myriad of divisions.
11.14ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः।tataḥ sa vismayāviṣhṭo hṛiṣhṭa-romā dhanañjayaḥThen, Arjuna, filled with wonder and his hair standing on end, bowed his head to the God and spoke with palms joined.
11.15पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहेpaśhyāmi devāns tava deva deheArjuna said, "O God, I see all the gods in Your body, as well as hosts of various classes of beings, Brahma the Lord seated on the lotus, all the sages, and the…
11.16अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रंaneka-bāhūdara-vaktra-netraṁI see You with boundless form on every side, with many arms, stomachs, mouths, and eyes; neither the end nor the middle nor the beginning do I see, O Lord of the…
11.17किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं चkirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ chakriṇaṁ chaI see You with the diadem, club, and discus, a mass of radiance shining everywhere, very hard to look at, blazing all around like a burning fire and the sun, and…
11.18त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यंtvam akṣharaṁ paramaṁ veditavyaṁYou are the Imperishable, the Supreme Being, worthy of being known. You are the great treasure-house of this universe; You are the imperishable protector of the eternal…
11.19अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्यस्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् || 19||I see You without beginning, middle, or end, infinite in power, with endless arms, the sun and moon as Your eyes, the burning fire Your mouth, heating the entire…
11.20द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हिdyāv ā-pṛithivyor idam antaraṁ hiThis space between the earth and the heavens, and all the quarters, is filled by You alone; having seen this, Your wonderful and terrible form, the three worlds are…
11.21अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घाः विशन्तिamī hi tvāṁ sura-saṅghā viśhantiVerily, these hosts of gods enter into Thee; some extol Thee with joined palms in fear, saying, 'May it be well!' Bands of great sages and perfected ones praise Thee…
11.22रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्याrudrādityā vasavo ye cha sādhyāThe Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Visvedevas, the two Asvins, Maruts, the Manus, and the hosts of celestial singers, Yakshas, demons, and the perfected ones, all look…
11.23रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रंrūpaṁ mahat te bahu-vaktra-netraṁHaving seen Your immeasurable form with many mouths and eyes, O mighty-armed one, with many arms, thighs, and feet, with many stomachs and fearsome with many teeth, the…
11.24नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णंnabhaḥ-spṛiśhaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁOn seeing Thee, touching the sky, shining in many colors, with mouths wide open, with large fiery eyes, I am terrified at heart and find neither courage nor peace, O…
11.25दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानिdanṣhṭrā-karālāni cha te mukhāniHaving seen Thy mouths fearful with teeth blazing like the fires of cosmic dissolution, I know not the four quarters, nor do I find peace. Have mercy, O Lord of the…
11.26अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राःamī cha tvāṁ dhṛitarāśhtrasya putrāḥAll the sons of Dhritarashtra, along with the hosts of kings of the earth, Bhishma, Drona, and Karna, as well as the chief among our warriors.
11.27वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्तिvaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti daṁṣṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni kecid vilagnā daśanāntareṣu sandṛśyante cūrṇitair uttamāṅgaiḥSome hurry into Your mouths with their terrible teeth, fearful to behold. Some are found stuck in the gaps between the teeth, their heads crushed to powder.
11.28यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाःyathā nadīnāṁ bahavo ’mbu-vegāḥVerily, just as many torrents of rivers flow towards the ocean, so too these heroes in the world of men enter Thy flaming mouths.
11.29यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गाyathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ pataṅgāAs moths hurriedly rush into a blazing fire, leading to their own destruction, so too these creatures hurry into Your mouths, leading to their own destruction.
11.30लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ताlelihyase grasamānaḥ samantālThou lickest up, devouring all the worlds on every side with Thy flaming mouths. Thy fierce rays, filling the whole world with radiance, burn, O Vishnu!
11.31आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपोākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpoTell me, who you are, so fierce of form. I offer my salutations to you, O God Supreme; have mercy on me. I desire to know you, the original Being. I do not indeed know…
11.32कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धोkālo ’smi loka-kṣhaya-kṛit pravṛiddhoThe Blessed Lord said, "I am the full-grown, world-destroying Time, now engaged in destroying the worlds. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the hostile…
11.33तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्वtasmāt tvam uttiṣhṭha yaśho labhasvaTherefore, stand up and obtain fame. Conquer the enemies and enjoy the unparalleled kingdom. Verily, by Me they have already been slain; be thou a mere instrument, O…
11.34द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं चdroṇaṁ cha bhīṣhmaṁ cha jayadrathaṁ chaDrona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and other brave warriors have already been slain by Me; do not be distressed with fear; fight and you shall conquer your enemies in…
11.35एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्यetach chhrutvā vachanaṁ keśhavasyaSanjaya said, Having heard that speech of Lord Krishna, Arjuna, with joined palms, trembling, prostrated himself, again addressing Krishna in a choked voice, bowing…
11.36स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्याsthāne hṛiṣhīkeśha tava prakīrtyāArjuna said, "It is fitting, O Krishna, that the world delights and rejoices in Your praise; demons fly in fear in all directions and the hosts of the perfected ones bow…
11.37कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्kasmāch cha te na nameran mahātmanAnd why should they not, O great Soul, bow to Thee Who art greater than all else, the primal cause even of the Creator (Brahma), O Infinite Being, O Lord of the gods, O…
11.38त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराणtvam ādi-devaḥ puruṣhaḥ purāṇasYou are the primal God, the ancient Purusha, the supreme refuge of this universe, the knower, the knowable, and the supreme Abode. Through You, the universe is pervaded…
11.39वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कःvāyur yamo ’gnir varuṇaḥ śhaśhāṅkaḥYou are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, the Creator, and the great-grandfather. I offer my salutations to You a thousand times, and again I offer my salutations to…
11.40नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्तेnamaḥ purastād atha pṛiṣhṭhatas teSalutations to You in front and behind! Salutations to You on every side! O All! You, infinite in power and prowess, pervade all; therefore You are all.
11.41सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तंsakheti matvā prasabhaṁ yad uktaṁWhatever I have presumptuously said from carelessness or love, addressing You as O Krishna! O Yadava! O Friend! regarding You merely as a friend, unknowing of Your…
11.42यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसिyach chāvahāsārtham asat-kṛito ’siIn whatever way I may have insulted You for the sake of fun, while at play, reposing, sitting, or at meals, when alone (with You), O Krishna, or in company, that I…
11.43पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्यpitāsi lokasya charācharasyaThou art the Father of this world, both moving and unmoving. Thou art to be adored by this world; Thou, the greatest Guru; for none exists who is equal to Thee; how then…
11.44तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायंtasmāt praṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṁTherefore, bowing down and prostrating my body, I crave Thy forgiveness, O adorable Lord. As a father forgives his son, a friend his dear friend, a lover his beloved…
11.45अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वाadṛiṣhṭa-pūrvaṁ hṛiṣhito ’smi dṛiṣhṭvāI am delighted, having seen something never seen before; yet my mind is distressed with fear. Show me that form only, O God; have mercy, O God of gods, O Abode of the…
11.46किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्तkirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ chakra-hastamI desire to see You as before, crowned, bearing a mace, with the discus in hand, in Your former form only, having four arms, O thousand-armed, Cosmic Being.
11.47मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदंmayā prasannena tavārjunedaṁThe Blessed Lord said, "O Arjuna, this Cosmic Form has graciously been shown to you by Me through My own Yogic power. It is full of splendour, primeval, and infinite…
11.48न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानैna veda-yajñādhyayanair na dānairNeither by the study of the Vedas, nor by gifts, nor by sacrifices, nor by severe austerities, can I be seen in this form in the world of men by any other than yourself…
11.49मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावोmā te vyathā mā cha vimūḍha-bhāvoDo not be afraid, nor be bewildered on seeing such a terrible form of Mine; with your fear dispelled and with a gladdened heart, now behold again this former form of…
11.50इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वाity arjunaṁ vāsudevas tathoktvāSanjaya said, Having thus spoken to Arjuna, Krishna again showed His own form. The great Soul, assuming His gentle form, then consoled Arjuna, who was terrified.
11.51दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तवसौम्यं जनार्दन।dṛiṣhṭvedaṁ mānuṣhaṁ rūpaṁ tava saumyaṁ janārdanaArjuna said, "Having seen this Thy gentle human form, O Krishna, now I am composed and have been restored to my own nature."
11.52सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम।su-durdarśham idaṁ rūpaṁ dṛiṣhṭavān asi yan mamaThe Blessed Lord said, "It is very hard indeed to see this form of Mine which thou hast seen; even the gods are ever longing to behold it."
11.53नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया।nāhaṁ vedair na tapasā na dānena na chejyayāNeither by the Vedas, nor by austerity, nor by gift, nor by sacrifice can I be seen in this form as thou hast seen Me so easily.
11.54भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्यमहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन।bhaktyā tv ananyayā śhakya aham evaṁ-vidho ’rjunaBut by single-minded devotion, I can be known, seen, and entered into in reality, O Arjuna.
11.55मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः।mat-karma-kṛin mat-paramo mad-bhaktaḥ saṅga-varjitaḥHe who does all actions for Me, who regards Me as the Supreme, who is devoted to Me, who is free from attachment, who bears no enmity towards any creature, he comes to…