Chapter 11

Verses

Details

Verse 1

Arjuna said: "Out of compassion, you have spoken about the supreme confidential spiritual knowledge and by your words, my delusion is now gone."

Verse 2


"O Lotus-eyed Lord, I have heard from You in detail about the eternal nature of living beings and the glories of Your manifestations."

Verse 3

"You are the Supreme Self, O Great Lord. Now I desire to see Your divine form as the Supreme Being."

Verse 4


"If You think that it is possible for me to see, O Lord, then kindly reveal Your imperishable form as the master of all mystic power."

Verse 5

"O Partha (Arjuna), behold My forms, hundreds and thousands in number, of various divine shapes and colors."

Verse 6

"Behold, O Arjuna, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Ashwini Kumars, and the Maruts. Witness numerous other wonders never seen before, O Bharata!"

Verse 7

"Behold, O Arjuna, in My body, the entire universe with its moving and non-moving beings. Also, whatever else you wish to see."

Verse 8

“"However, you are unable to see me with your physical eyes. Therefore, I grant you divine sight. Behold my majestic opulence."

Verse 9

Sanjaya said, "Having spoken thus, O King, the supreme lord Hari, the great master of mysticism, revealed His Supreme Divine form to Arjuna."

Verse 10

Verse 11

"With countless faces and eyes, adorned with numerous marvelous sights, adorned with divine ornaments and wielding divine, uplifted weapons, wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances, Arjuna sees the divine Lord, resplendent, infinite, and facing in all directions."

Verse 12

"If a thousand suns were to rise in the sky simultaneously, their radiance would not be similar to the effulgence of that great soul."

Verse 13

"At that time, Arjuna saw within the body of the Supreme Lord, the entire universe, divided into many different forms."

Verse 14

"Overwhelmed with wonder and hair standing on end, Arjuna bowed his head in reverence and with folded hands, he spoke to the Lord."

Verse 15

Arjuna said:

I see gods, O God, in your body,

as well as all the different beings,

Brahma, the divine seers, and the celestial serpents

Verse 16


I see you with numerous arms, bellies, mouths, and eyes,

O Lord, in infinite forms, extending in all directions.

I see no end, no middle, nor beginning of you,

O Lord of the universe, O Universal Form.

Verse 17

I see you adorned with a crown, mace, and discus,

Radiating a blazing effulgence from all sides.

I behold you difficult to perceive, shining intensely,

Like a blazing fire or the scorching sun, immeasurable.

Verse 18

You are the imperishable and supreme to be known,

You are the ultimate abode of the entire universe.

You are the unchanging, eternal upholder of righteousness,

You are the eternal being, as per my understanding.

Verse 19

I see You as without beginning, middle, or end,

With infinite power, numerous arms, and sun-like eyes.

I see You blazing, with radiant faces and flaming mouths,

Radiating your own effulgence, and illuminating the entire universe.

Verse 20

Indeed, this entire space between heaven and earth

Is pervaded by Your omnipresence.

Having beheld Your wondrous and fierce form,

The three worlds are trembling in great distress, O Mighty Being.

Verse 21

Behold, the hosts of gods enter into You.

Some are filled with fear, offering salutations,

While the great sages and perfected beings,

Proclaim "All is well" and sing hymns of praise with auspicious words.

Verse 22

The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, and Sadhyas,

The Vishvadevas, Ashvins, Maruts, and the Ushmapas,

Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, and Siddhas,

All gaze upon You in amazement.

Verse 23

I see Your immense form with numerous faces and eyes,

O mighty-armed one, with numerous arms, thighs, and feet.

Your stomach is vast, Your mouths are fearsome,

And the world trembles upon witnessing it, as do I.

Verse 24

I see You touching the sky, blazing with various colors,

With a wide-open mouth and large, radiant eyes.

Upon beholding this, my inner self is trembling in fear,

I cannot maintain composure or find peace, O Vishnu.

Verse 25

Your mouths with terrifying teeth,

Resemble the fires of cosmic destruction.

I don't know the directions, nor do I find solace,

O Lord of gods, refuge of the universe, be gracious to me.

Verse 26

Verse 27

All these sons of Dhritarashtra,

Along with the kings of the world,

Bhishma, Drona, and the son of a charioteer,

Thus seeing you, they rush into your fearsome mouths.

Verse 28

Verse 29

Just as moths rush into a blazing fire

for their own destruction, driven by their desire,

similarly, these people also rush into Your mouths

for their own destruction, driven by their actions.

Verse 30

With Your flaming mouths, You are devouring all beings from every side,

Your radiant and blazing faces are illuminating the entire universe.

With Your dazzling radiance, You are filling the entire world,

Your fierce brilliance is scorching, O Vishnu.

Verse 31

Please tell me who You are in this fearsome form,

O Supreme Deity, I bow to You, be gracious to me.

I desire to understand You, the primal Being,

For I do not comprehend Your actions.

Verse 32

The Supreme Lord said:

“I am Time, the destroyer of worlds, who has come forth to annihilate the people.

Even without your participation, all the warriors standing in the opposing armies shall cease to exist.”

Verse 33

“Therefore, arise, O Arjuna, and attain glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. By My arrangement, they are already slain. Be a mere instrument, O wielder of the bow.”

Verse 34

“Defeat Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and the other mighty warriors on the battlefield. They have already been slain by Me. Do not be disturbed. Fight and you will conquer your enemies in battle.”

Verse 35

Sanjaya said:

“Having heard the words of Lord Krishna, Arjuna, with folded hands and trembling, wearing his crown, bowed down again and again. With a choked voice and fearful heart, he offered his obeisances to Krishna.”

Verse 36

Arjuna said:

In Your presence, O Hrishikesha (Krishna), the world rejoices and is filled with joy. The demons are fleeing in all directions, and the hosts of perfected beings bow down to You.

Verse 37

Why should they not bow down to You, O Mighty Being,

Who are even greater than Brahma, the Creator Himself?

O Infinite Lord, O Dweller of the Universe,

You are the Imperishable, the Supreme Reality.

Verse 38

Translation:

You are the original divine being, the ancient person,

You are the supreme abode of this universe.

Verse 39

“Salutations to you, O Vayu (the wind), Yama (the lord of death), Agni (the fire), Varuna (the lord of water), and Shashanka (the moon).

You are Prajapati (the lord of creation), the ancient progenitor, and the great-grandfather.

May salutations be unto you, again and again, a thousand times.

Once again, I bow down to you, offering my reverence and obeisance.”

Verse 40

“Salutations to you from the front, from the back,

Salutations to you from all directions, always and everywhere.

You possess infinite valor and immeasurable prowess,

You encompass everything, hence you are the all.”

Verse 41

Verse 42

"Considering You as my friend, I have addressed You out of affection, 'O Krishna,' 'O Yadava,' 'O my dear friend,' not knowing Your glories. Please forgive whatever I may have done in madness or in love. I have dishonored You many times, jesting as we relaxed, lay on the same bed, or sat or ate together, sometimes alone and sometimes in front of many friends. O infallible one, please excuse me for all those offenses."

Verse 43

"You are the father of this world, both moving and non-moving. You are its worshipful guardian and the ultimate guru. There is no one equal to or greater than You. How then can there be anyone superior in the three worlds, O incomparable power?"

Verse 44

"Therefore, I bow down to You with my body, seeking Your grace. You are the supreme Lord, worthy of worship and adoration. You are like a father to a son, a friend to a friend. O divine Lord, You are dear and lovable. Please forgive my impertinence."

Verse 45

"Having seen your unseen, wondrous form, I am delighted, yet my mind is troubled with fear. Please show me that divine form once again, O Lord of the gods, O abode of the universe."

Verse 46

I desire to behold you adorned with a crown, mace, and discus in your hand, just as you are. O thousand-armed one, assume that four-armed form and reveal yourself as the universal embodiment."

Verse 47

"The supreme divine personality, Lord Krishna, said: By my grace, O Arjuna, this divine form, which is resplendent, universal, and eternal, has been revealed to you through the power of self-realization. It is a form adorned with divine radiance and has never been seen before by anyone other than yourself."

Verse 48

"O mighty-armed Arjuna, in this human world, it is not possible for anyone other than you to behold me in this form, neither through the study of the Vedas, nor through sacrificial rituals, acts of charity, or severe penances."

Verse 49

"Do not be disturbed or bewildered by this fierce form of Mine. With a joyful and contented mind, behold once again My pleasant form."

Verse 50

Sanjaya said:

"Having thus spoken to Arjuna, Lord Krishna revealed His own human form once again. He reassured Arjuna, who was filled with fear, and assumed His gentle form, the great soul."

Verse 51

Arjuna said:

"O Janardana (Krishna), after seeing this gentle human form of Yours, I have regained my composure and attained my natural state of mind."

Verse 52

Verse 53

The Supreme Lord said:

"This divine form of Mine that you have seen is indeed very difficult to behold. Even the celestial gods constantly desire to see this form.


Neither through study of the Vedas, nor through austerity, nor through charity can this form be seen as you have seen it. Only by undivided devotion can I be known in this form, seen as I am."

Verse 54

But, O Arjuna, by undivided devotion it is possible to know, to see, and to enter into Me in this form, truly and fully.

Verse 55

One who performs actions for My sake, considering Me as the supreme goal, devoted to Me, free from attachment, without enmity towards any being, that person reaches Me, O Arjuna.