Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute by Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Viśva-rūpa-darśana-yoga
The Vision of the Universal Form
arjuna uvācha
mad-anugrahāya paramaṁ, guhyam adhyātma-saṁjñitam
yat tvayoktaṁ vachas tena, moho ’yaṁ vigato mama [1]
arjunaḥ uvācha–Arjuna said: ayam–this; mama mohaḥ–ignorance of mine, about You; vigataḥ–has been dispelled; tena–by that; paramam–most; guhyam–secret; vachaḥ– revelation; adhyātma-saṁjñitam–pertaining to the divine glories of Your Supreme Self; yat–as; uktam–described; tvayā–by You; mat-anugrahāya–out of Your mercy for me.
1 Arjuna said: By Your grace, You have revealed Your hidden treasure to me, and my ignorance of Your Supreme Self has been dispelled.
~~~
bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṁ, śrutau vistaraśo mayā tvattaḥ kamala-patrākṣa, māhātmyam api chāvyayam [2]
{he} kamala-patra-akṣa–O Lord Kṛṣṇa, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus flower; hi–certainly; vistaraśaḥ–elaborately; bhava-apyayau–the manifestation and withdrawal; bhūtānām–of all beings; śrutau–has been heard; mayā–by me; tvattaḥ– from You; cha–and; {tava}–Your; avyayam–inexhaustible; māhātmyam–glories; api– too; {śrutam}–have been heard.
2 O beautiful lotus-eyed Lord, I have heard Your elaborate description of the manifestation and dissolution of the living beings, and I have also heard Your description of Your inexhaustible glories.
~~~
evam etad yathāttha tvam, ātmānaṁ parameśvara
draṣṭum ichchhāmi te rūpam, aiśvaraṁ puruṣottama [3]
{he} parama-īśvara–O Supreme Lord; yathā–as; tvam–You; āttha–have spoken; ātmānam–of the glories pertaining to Yourself; evam–such; etat–is so; {tathāpi}–yet; {he} puruṣa-uttama–O Supreme Person; {aham} ichchhāmi–I wish; draṣṭum–to see; te–Your; aiśvaram–glorious; rūpam–form.
3 O Lord, You have perfectly described Your Supreme Self. Yet, O Puruṣottama, I wish to see this glorious form of Yours.
~~~
manyase yadi tach chhakyaṁ, mayā draṣṭum iti prabho
yogeśvara tato me tvaṁ, darśayātmānam avyayam [4]
{he} prabho–O Lord; yadi–if; manyase iti–You consider; tat–that; śakyam draṣṭum– is possible to be seen; mayā–by me; tataḥ–then; {he} yoga-īśvara–O all-powerful one; tvam–You; darśaya–please reveal; avyayam ātmānam–Your imperishable Self; me–to me.
4 O Yogeśvara, I implore Thee, if You consider it possible for me to see it, please reveal Your imperishable form to me.
~~~
śrī-bhagavān uvācha
paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi, śataśo ’tha sahasraśaḥ
nānā-vidhāni divyāni, nānā-varṇākṛtīni cha [5]
śrī-bhagavān uvācha–The Supreme Lord said: {he} pārtha–O Pārtha; paśya–see; me–My; śataśaḥ–hundreds; atha sahasraśaḥ–of thousands of; divyāni–divine; rūpāṇi– forms; nānā-vidhāni–of many kinds; nānā-varṇa-ākṛtīni cha–and many colours and shapes.
5 The Supreme Lord said: O Pārtha, behold My innumerable divine forms of many kinds, colours and shapes.
~~~
paśyādityān vasūn rudrān, aśvinau marutas tathā
bahūny adṛṣṭa-pūrvāṇi, paśyāścharyāṇi bhārata [6]
{he} bhārata–O descendant of Bharata; paśya–see; ādityān–the twelve Ādityas; vasūn– the eight Vasus; rudrān–the eleven Rudras; aśvinau–the Aśvinī twins; tathā marutaḥ– and the forty-nine Vāyus. paśya–See; bahūni–many; āścharyāṇi–wondrous forms; adṛṣṭa-pūrvāṇi–hitherto unseen.
6 O Bhārata, behold the gods—Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Aśvinī-kumāras and Vāyus. Behold many wondrous forms, hitherto unseen.
~~~
ihaikasthaṁ jagat kṛtsnaṁ, paśyādya sa-charācharam
mama dehe guḍākeśa, yach chānyad draṣṭum ichchhasi [7]
{he} guḍākeśa–O conqueror of sleep; kṛtsnam–the whole; jagat–universe; sa-charaacharam– including moving and stationary beings; eka-stham–is situated in one place; iha dehe–in this form; mama–of Mine; cha–and; yat–whatever; anyat–else; {tvam}–you; ichchhasi–wish; draṣṭum–to see; paśya–see; {tadapi}–that too; adya–today.
7 O vigilant Arjuna, behold in one place, in this form of Mine, the whole universe of moving and stationary beings, or anything else you desire to see.
~~~
na tu māṁ śakyase draṣṭum, anenaiva sva-chakṣuṣā
divyaṁ dadāmi te chakṣuḥ, paśya me yogam aiśvaram [8]
tu–But; anena–with these; sva-chakṣuṣā eva–present eyes of yours; {tvam}–you; na śakyase–cannot; draṣṭum–see; mām–Me. dadāmi–{So} I give; te–you; divyam–divine; chakṣuḥ–eyes. paśya–Behold; me–My; aiśvaram–opulences; yogam–of divine potency.
8 But you cannot see Me with these eyes, so I give you divine vision> Behold My divine opulences.
~~~
sañjaya uvācha
evam uktvā tato rājan, mahā-yogeśvaro hariḥ
darśayāmāsa pārthāya, paramaṁ rūpam aiśvaram [9]
sañjayaḥ uvācha–Sañjaya said: {he} rājan–O King Dhṛtarāṣṭra; uktvā–speaking; evam–in this way; mahā-yoga-īśvaraḥ–the omnipotent Supreme Lord; hariḥ–Śrī Kṛṣṇa; tataḥ–then; darśayāmāsa–revealed; paramam–His almighty; aiśvaram–magnificent; rūpam–form; pārthāya–to Arjuna.
9 Sañjaya said: O King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, speaking thus to Arjuna, the omnipotent Supreme Lord Śrī Hari revealed His magnificent, almighty form.
~~~
aneka-vaktra-nayanam, anekādbhuta-darśanam
aneka-divyābharaṇaṁ, divyānekodyatāyudham [10]
divya-mālyāmbara-dharaṁ, divya-gandhānulepanam
sarvāścharyamayaṁ devam, anantaṁ viśvato-mukham [11]
{hariḥ}–The Supreme Lord; {rūpaṁ darśayāmāsa}–revealed His form; aneka-vaktranayanam– of many mouths and eyes; aneka-adbhuta-darśanam–many wonders; aneka-divya-ābharaṇam–many effulgent ornaments; divya-aneka-udyata-āyudham– and many raised gleaming weapons; divya-mālya-ambara-dharam–resplendently garlanded and dressed; divya-gandha-anulepanam–anointed with celestial fragrances; sarva-āścharya-mayam–all-wonderful; anantam–unlimited; devam–effulgent; viśvataḥ mukham– and facing all directions of the universe.
10, 11 The Lord revealed His effulgent, omnipresent, all-wonderful universal form of many mouths and eyes, many marvels, effulgent dress and garlands, anointed with celestial fragrances, many dazzling ornaments and gleaming upraised weapons.
~~~
divi sūrya-sahasrasya, bhaved yugapad utthitā
yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syād, bhāsas tasya mahātmanaḥ [12]
yadi–If; yugapat–simultaneously; bhāḥ–the effulgence; sūrya-sahasrasya–of a thousand suns; utthitā bhavet–appeared; divi–in the sky; {tarhi}–then; syāt–perhaps; sā–that; sadṛśī–might resemble; bhāsaḥ–the effulgence; tasya mahā-ātmanaḥ–of this supreme universal form.
12 The brilliance of a thousand suns appearing simultaneously in the sky might resemble the effulgence of this great universal form of the Lord.
~~~
tatraika-sthaṁ jagat kṛtsnaṁ, pravibhaktam anekadhā
apaśyad deva-devasya, śarīre pāṇḍavas tadā [13]
tadā–Then; tatra–there on the battlefield; pāṇḍavaḥ–Arjuna; apaśyat–saw; śarīre–in the body; deva-devasya–of the God of gods; kṛtsnam–the entire; jagat–universe; ekastham– situated in one; aneka-dhā–variously; pravibhaktam–divided.
13 In that moment, there on the battlefield, Arjuna saw the entire multi-faceted universe in one, within the body of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme God of gods.
~~~
tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo, hṛṣṭa-romā dhanañjayaḥ
praṇamya śirasā devaṁ, kṛtā.jalir abhāṣata [14]
tataḥ–After that; {san}–being; vismaya-āviṣṭaḥ–astonished; hṛṣṭa-romāḥ–with body hairs standing on end; saḥ dhanañjayaḥ–Arjuna; praṇamya–offering obeisances; śirasā– with bowed head; devam–unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; abhāṣata–spoke; kṛta-añjaliḥ–placing his palms together in prayer.
14 Astonished, the hairs of his body standing on end, Arjuna bowed his head in obeisance to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Placing his palms together, he prayed.
~~~
arjuna uvācha
paśyāmi devāṁs tava deva dehe
sarvāṁs tathā bhūta-viśeṣa-saṅghān
brahmāṇam īśaṁ kamalāsana-stham
ṛṣīṁś cha sarvān uragāṁś cha divyān [15]
arjunaḥ uvācha–Arjuna said: {he} deva–O Lord; {aham} paśyāmi–I see; tava dehe–within Your body; sarvān–all; devān–the demigods; tathā–and; bhūta-viśeṣasaṅ ghān–all species of life; sarvān–all; divyān ṛṣīn–the celestial sages; uragān–and serpents; īśam cha–and Mahādeva, Lord Śiva; brahmāṇam cha–and Lord Brahmā, too; kamala-āsana-stham–seated on the lotus flower.
15 Arjuna said: O Lord, I see within Your body the demigods, all species of life, the celestial sages and serpents, Mahādeva, and Lord Brahmā seated on the lotus flower.
~~~
aneka-bāhūdara-vaktra-netraṁ
paśyāmi tvāṁ sarvato ’nanta-rūpam
nāntaṁ na madhyaṁ na punas tavādiṁ
paśyāmi viśveśvara viśva-rūpa [16]
{he} viśva-īśvara–O Lord of the universe; {he} viśva-rūpa–O universal form; {aham} paśyāmi–I see; tvām–You; ananta-rūpam–of infinite form; sarvataḥ–in all directions; aneka-bāhu-udara-vaktra-netram–with Your many arms, bellies, mouths and eyes. punaḥ–Yet; {aham} paśyāmi–I see; na ādim–no beginning; na madhyam–no middle; na antam–and no end; tava–of You.
16 O Lord of the universe, O universal form, in all directions I see Your infinite form of many arms, bellies, mouths and eyes. I see no beginning, middle or end of You.
~~~
kirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ chakriṇaṁ cha
tejorāśiṁ sarvato dīptimantam
paśyāmi tvāṁ durnirīkṣyaṁ samantād
dīptānalārka-dyutim aprameyam [17]
{aham} paśyāmi–I see; tvām–You; samantāt–everywhere; kirīṭinam–with crown; gadinam–club; cha–and; chakriṇam–disc; tejaḥ-rāśim–a mass of effulgence; sarvataḥ dīptimantam–illuminating all; dipta-anala-arka-dyutim–like the blazing fire of the sun; durnirīkṣyam–difficult to behold; aprameyam–and incomprehensible.
17 I see You everywhere with crown, club and disc, a mass of effulgence illuminating all like the blazing light of the sun, difficult to behold and incomprehensible.
~~~
tvam akṣaraṁ paramaṁ veditavyaṁ
tvam asya viśvasya paraṁ nidhānam
tvam avyayaḥ śāśvata-dharma-goptā
sanātanas tvaṁ puruṣo mato me [18]
tvam paramam akṣaram–You are Parabrahman; veditavyam–knowable by the Vedas. tvam param–You are the supreme; nidhānam–reservoir; asya viśvasya–of this universe. tvam avyayaḥ–You are the imperishable; śāśvata-dharma-goptā–preserver of Vedic sanātana-dharma, the eternal religion. tvam sanātanaḥ–You are the eternal; puruṣaḥ–Supreme Personality; {iti}–this is; me–my; mataḥ–understanding.
18 You are the Supreme Absolute Truth knowable by the Vedas. You are the supreme reservoir of the universe and the imperishable preserver of the eternal religion described in the Vedas. I now understand You to be the eternal Supreme Personality.
~~~
anādi-madhyāntam ananta-vīryam
ananta-bāhuṁ śaśi-sūrya-netram
paśyāmi tvāṁ dīpta-hutāśa-vaktraṁ
sva-tejasā viśvam idaṁ tapantam [19]
{aham} paśyāmi–I see; tvām–You; anādi-madhya-antam–without beginning, middle and end; ananta-vīryam–infinitely powerful; ananta-bāhum–with infinite arms; śaśi-sūrya-netram–and Your eyes are the sun and moon; dīpta-hutāśa-vaktram– Your mouth of blazing fire; idam viśvam–this universe; tapantam–is seared; sva-tejasā– by Your radiance.
19 I see You without beginning, middle or end, infinitely powerful with countless arms. Your eyes are the sun and the moon, Your mouth is blazing fire, and the entire universe is seared by Your radiance.
~~~
dyāv āpṛthivyor idam antaraṁ hi
vyāptaṁ tvayaikena diśaś cha sarvāḥ
dṛṣṭvādbhutaṁ rūpam idaṁ tavograṁ
loka-trayaṁ pravyathitaṁ mahātman [20]
hi–Certainly; idam–this; antaram–space between; dyau āpṛthivyoḥ–heaven and earth; sarvāḥ diśaḥ cha–and all directions; vyāptam–are pervaded; tvayā–by You; ekena– alone. {he} mahā-ātman–O gracious one; dṛṣṭvā–seeing; idam–this; adbhutam–wondrous; ugram–fearsome; rūpam–form; tava–of Yours; loka-trayam–all the three worlds; pravyathitam–are terrified.
20 You alone pervade all directions and all space between heaven and earth. O gracious one, seeing this wondrous and fearsome form of Yours, all the inhabitants of the three worlds are terrified.
~~~
amī hi tvāṁ sura-saṅghā viśanti
kechid bhītāḥ prā.jalayo gṛṇanti
svastīty uktvā maharṣi-siddha-saṅghāḥ
stuvanti tvāṁ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ [21]
amī–All these; sura-saṅghāḥ–demigods; viśanti–are entering; tvām hi–into You; kechit–some; bhītāḥ–fearfully; gṛṇanti–offering prayers; prā.jalayaḥ–with cupped hands. su-asti iti uktvā–“May auspiciousness come to the world”–saying this; mahā-ṛṣisiddha- saṅghāḥ–the great sages and perfected beings; stuvanti–are offering prayers; tvām–to You; puṣkalābhiḥ–by excellent; stutibhiḥ–verses singing Your glories.
21 All the demigods are entering into You, some fearfully offering You prayers with cupped hands. The great sages and perfected beings are singing Your glories in beautiful verses, saying, “May all auspiciousness come to the world.”
~~~
rudrādityā vasavo ye cha sādhyā
viśve ’śvinau marutaś choṣmapāś cha
gandharva-yakṣāsura-siddha-saṅghā
vīkṣante tvāṁ vismitāś chaiva sarve [22]
rudra-ādityāḥ–The Rudras and the Ādityas; vasavaḥ–the Vasus; ye cha {nāma}– and those called; sādhyāḥ–the Sādhyas; viśve–the Viśvadevas; aśvinau–the Aśvinī kumāras; marutaḥ cha–and the Vāyus; uṣma-pāḥ cha–and the forefather-demigods; gandharva-yakṣa-asura-siddha-saṅghāḥ cha–and also the Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Asuras and perfected beings; {te} sarve eva–indeed, they all; vismitāḥ–marvel; vīkṣante tvām– to behold You.
22 The Rudras, Ādityas, Vasus, Sādhyas, Viśvadevas, Aśvinī-kumāras, Vāyus, deities of the forefathers, the Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Asuras, and Siddhas—indeed, they all marvel to behold You.
~~~
rūpaṁ mahat te bahu-vaktra-netraṁ
mahā-bāho bahu-bāhūru-pādam
bahūdaraṁ bahu-daṁṣṭrā-karālaṁ
dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathāham [23]
{he} mahā-bāho–O mighty-armed Kṛṣṇa; lokāḥ–all; tathā aham–including myself; pravyathitāḥ–are afflicted with fear; dṛṣṭvā–seeing; te–Your; mahat–vast; rūpam–form; bahu-vaktra-netram–of many mouths and eyes; bahu-bāhu-uru-pādam–many arms, thighs and feet; bahu-udaram–many bellies; bahu-daṁṣṭrā-karālam–and fearful with many teeth.
23 O mighty-armed one, seeing Your vast form of many mouths, eyes, arms, legs, feet, and bellies, fearful with its many teeth, all beings, including myself, are afflicted with fear.
~~~
nabhaḥ-spṛśaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁ
vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viśāla-netram
dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntar-ātmā
dhṛtiṁ na vindāmi śamaṁ cha viṣṇo [24]
{he} viṣṇo–O pervader of the universe; dṛṣṭvā–seeing; tvām–You; nabhaḥ-spṛśam– sky-touching; dīptam–dazzling; aneka-varṇam–multi-coloured; vyātta-ānanam–of gaping mouth; dīpta-viśāla-netram–and huge fiery eye; {aham}–I; pravyathita-antaḥ ātmā– with extremely fearful heart; na hi vindāmi dhṛtim śamam cha––cannot find equilibrium or peace.
24 O Viṣṇu, seeing Your sky-touching, dazzling form of myriad colours, with gaping mouth and huge fiery eye, my heart trembles with fear and I cannot find equilibrium or peace.
~~~
daṁṣṭrā-karālāni cha te mukhāni
dṛṣṭvaiva kālānala-sannibhāni
diśo na jāne na labhe cha śarma
prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa [25]
dṛṣṭvā eva–Seing; te–Your; mukhāni–mouths; daṁṣṭrā-karālāni–ghastly with their teeth; kāla-anala sannibhāni cha–and resembling the fire of the universal annihilation; {aham}–I; na jāne–cannot know; diśaḥ–the directions; na labhe–nor can I find; śarma cha–composure. {he} deva-īśa–O God of gods; {he} jagat-nivāsa–O abode of the universe; {tvam} prasīda–be gracious.
25 Seeing Your mouths resembling the fire of the universal annihilation, ghastly with their terrible teeth, I am distraught and have lost my bearings. Be gracious, O Lord of the gods, O abode of the universe.
~~~
amī cha tvāṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ
sarve sahaivāvanipāla-saṅghaiḥ
bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sūta-putras tathāsau
sahāsmadīyair api yodha-mukhyaiḥ [26]
vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti
daṁṣṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni
kechid vilagnā daśanāntareṣu
saṁdṛśyante chūrṇitair uttamāṅgaiḥ [27]
amī cha sarve–All these; putrāḥ–sons; dhṛtarāṣṭrasya–of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; avanipāla- saṅghaiḥ saha eva–along with their allied kings; tathā–as well as; bhīṣmaḥ– Bhīṣma; droṇaḥ–Droṇa; asau sūta-putraḥ–and that Karṇa; saha api–along with; yodha-mukhyaiḥ–the chief warriors; asmadīyaiḥ–of our party; tvaramāṇāḥ–are swiftly; {viśanti}–entering; tvām–You; viśanti–entering; te–Your; bhayānakāni–terrible; vaktrāṇi–mouths; daṁṣṭrā-karālāni–of terrible teeth. kechit–Some; saṁdṛśyante–are seen; chūrṇitaiḥ-uttama-aṅgaiḥ–with crushed heads; vilagnāḥ–caught; daśanaantareṣ u–between the teeth.
26, 27 The sons of Dhṛtarāṣtra, their allied kings, and Bhīṣma, Droṇa and Karṇa, along with our chief warriors, are all rushing into Your dreadful mouths of terrible teeth. Some can be seen with their heads caught and crushed by Your teeth.
yathā nadīnāṁ bahavo ’mbu-vegāḥ
samudram evābhimukhā dravanti
tathā tavāmī nara-loka-vīrā
viśanti vaktrāṇy abhito jvalanti [28]
yathā–As; bahavaḥ–many; ambu-vegāḥ–currents of water; nadīnām–of rivers; abhimukhāḥ {santaḥ}–flowing towards the ocean; dravanti eva–enter; samudram–the ocean; tathā–similarly; amī–all these; nara-loka-vīrāḥ–heroic men; viśanti–are entering; tava–Your; vaktrāṇi–mouths; jvalanti–which are fiery, illuminating; abhitaḥ– all around.
28 As many rivers flow towards the ocean to finally enter into it, so these heroes of the world are entering Your flaming mouths that illuminate all around.
~~~
yathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ pataṅgā
viśanti nāśāya samṛddha-vegāḥ
tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokās
tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddha-vegāḥ [29]
yathā–As; pataṅgāḥ–insects; samṛddha-vegāḥ–are impelled; nāśāya–to their destruction; viśanti–entering into; pradīptam–blazing; jvalanam–fire; tathā–similarly; lokāḥ api–all the worlds; samṛddha-vegāḥ {santaḥ}–are helplessly rushing; viśanti–entering into; tava vaktrāṇi–Your mouths; nāśāya eva–to certain death.
29 As moths are impelled to their death in blazing fire, similarly, all the worlds are helplessly rushing to certain death, entering into Your mouths.
~~~
lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāl
lokān samagrān vadanair jvaladbhiḥ
tejobhir āpūrya jagat samagraṁ
bhāsas tavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo [30]
{he} viṣṇo–O pervader of the universe; {tvam}–You; lelihyase–are relishing; grasamānaḥ– devouring; samagrān–all these; lokān–persons, worlds; samantāt–in all directions; jvaladbhiḥ vadanaiḥ–with Your flaming mouths. āpūrya–Filled; tava tejobhiḥ– with Your effulgence; ugrāḥ–of severe; bhāsaḥ–glare; samagram jagat–the whole universe; pratapanti–is being seared.
30 O Viṣṇu, with Your flaming mouths, You are relishing devouring all the worlds, Your all-pervading, glaring effulgence searing the entire universe.
~~~
ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo
namo ’stu te deva-vara prasīda
vijñātum ichchhāmi bhavantam ādyaṁ
na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim [31]
ākhyāhi me–Please tell me; kaḥ bhavān–who are You; ugra-rūpaḥ–of fearsome form. namaḥ astu–I offer obeisance; te–unto You. {he} deva-vara–O Lord of lords; {tvam} prasīda–be gracious. {aham} ichchhāmi–I wish; vijñātum–to fully know; bhavantam–You; ādyam–the Origin; hi–as; {aham}–I; na prajānāmi–cannot understand; tava–Your; pravṛttim–intention.
31 O fearsome one, please tell me who You are. O Lord of the gods, I offer obeisance unto You; please be gracious. I wish to fully know You, the Origin, as I cannot understand your actions.
~~~
śrī-bhagavān uvācha
kālo ’smi loka-kṣaya-kṛt pravṛddho
lokān samāhartum iha pravṛttaḥ
ṛte ’pi tvāṁ na bhaviṣyanti sarve
ye ’vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ [32]
śrī-bhagavān uvācha–The Supreme Lord said: {aham} asmi–I am; pravṛddhaḥ– mighty; kālaḥ–time; loka-kṣaya-kṛt–the destroyer of all beings; pravṛttaḥ–engaged; samāhartum–to annihilate; lokān–all beings; iha–in this plane. ye yodhāḥ–Of those warriors; avasthitāḥ–present; pratyanīkeṣu–in the enemy army; {te} sarve na bhaviṣyanti–none will be spared; tvām ṛte api–despite you.
32 The Supreme Lord said: I am the time, the mighty vanquisher of all, and I am engaged in destroying the worlds. Even if you do not slay them, not one of the warriors in the enemy party will be spared.
~~~
tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savyasāchin [33]
tasmāt–Therefore; tvam–you; uttiṣṭha–arise for battle; labhasva–take; yaśaḥ–the credit; jitvā–and conquering; śatrūn–the enemies; bhuṅkṣva–enjoy; samṛddham rājyam– a flourishing kingdom. ete–All these warriors; nihatāḥ–have been slain; mayā eva– by Me; pūrvam eva–long before. {he} savyasāchin–O Arjuna, who can skillfully shoot arrows even with his left hand; {tvam}–you; bhava–be; nimitta-mātram–but an instrument.
33 So arise! Be glorious! Conquer the enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. All these warriors have already been killed by Me. O Savyasāchin, you be but an instrument.
~~~
droṇaṁ cha bhīṣmaṁ cha jayadrathaṁ cha
karṇaṁ tathānyān api yodha-vīrān
mayā hatāṁs tvaṁ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā
yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān [34]
tvam–You; jahi–slay; droṇam cha–Droṇa; bhīṣmam cha–Bhīṣma; jayadratham– Jayadratha; karṇam cha–and Karṇa; tathā–as; anyān api–any other; yodha-vīrān– warriors desiring battle; hatān–{but already} killed; mayā–by Me. mā vyathiṣṭhāḥ– Fear not; yudhyasva–fight! jetā asi–You shall conquer; sapatnān–the enemy; raṇe– in battle.
34 Slay Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa, and the many warriors who are as good as slain by Me. Fear not, fight! You will be victorious over the enemy.
~~~
sañjaya uvācha
etach chhrutvā vachanaṁ keśavasya
kṛtā.jalir vepamānaḥ kirīṭī
namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṁ
sagadgadaṁ bhīta-bhītaḥ praṇamya [35]
sañjayaḥ uvācha–Sañjaya said: śrutvā–Hearing; etat vachanam–these words; keśavasya–of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kirīṭī–Arjuna; vepamānaḥ–trembling; kṛta-añjaliḥ {san}– placing the palms of his hands together in prayer; namaḥ-kṛtvā–bowing; bhīta-bhītaḥ eva–with a very fearful heart; bhūyaḥ–again; praṇamya–offering obeisances; āha– spoke; kṛṣṇam–to Lord Kṛṣṇa; sa-gad-gadam–falteringly.
35 Sañjaya said: Hearing these words of the Lord, the trembling Arjuna bowed his head, placing the palms of his hands together in prayer. With a fearful heart, bowing again, he spoke falteringly.
~~~
arjuna uvācha
sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā
jagat prahṛṣyaty anurajyate cha
rakṣāṁsi bhītāni diśo dravanti
sarve namasyanti cha siddha-saṅghāḥ [36]
arjunaḥ uvācha–Arjuna said: {he} hṛṣīkeśa–O Lord of the senses of all beings; sthāne–rightfully; jagat–the whole world; prahṛṣyati–is joyful; tava prakīrtyā–by singing Your glories; cha anurajyate–with love; rakṣāmsi–the demons; bhītāni {santaḥ}– being afraid; dravanti–run; diśaḥ–in all four directions; cha–and; sarve–all; siddhasaṅ ghāḥ–the perfected beings; namasyanti–offer respects, obeisance.
36 Arjuna said: O Hṛṣīkeśa, it is fitting that the whole world joyfully sings Your glories with love, the demons flee, scattering in all directions, and the perfected beings offer obeisance to You.
~~~
kasmāch cha te na nameran mahātman
garīyase brahmaṇo ’py ādi-kartre
ananta deveśa jagan-nivāsa
tvam akṣaraṁ sad-asat tat paraṁ yat [37]
{he} mahā-ātman–O gracious personality; {he} ananta–O infinite, embodiment of all; {he} deva-īśa–O God of gods; {he} jagat-nivāsa–O abode of the universe; garīyase– the worshippable; ādi-kartre cha–and the creator; brahmaṇaḥ api–of even Lord Brahmā; kasmāt {sarve} na nameran–how would they all not bow; te–to You? tvam sat asat–You are the manifest and the unmanifest, the material effect and cause; akṣaram– the Imperishable, Brahman; tat param yat–that which is transcendental, the Supreme.
37 And, O gracious one, how would they not bow to You, the worshippable creator of even the creator Lord Brahmā? O infinite God of gods, O abode of the universe, You are the manifest, the unmanifest, the Supreme Imperishable.
~~~
tvam ādi-devaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇas
tvam asya viśvasya paraṁ nidhānam
vettāsi vedyaṁ cha paraṁ cha dhāma
tvayā tataṁ viśvam ananta-rūpa [38]
tvam {asi}–You are; ādi-devaḥ–the original Lord; purāṇaḥ puruṣaḥ–the eternal personality; tvam asi–You are; param–the only; nidhānam–refuge, resting place; asya viśvasya–of this universe; vettā–the knower; vedyam cha–and the knowable; param dhāma cha–and the supreme abode. {he} ananta-rūpa–O Lord of infinite forms; viśvam–the universe; tatam–is pervaded; tvayā–by You.
38 You are the eternal origin of all the demigods, and the only refuge of this universe. You alone are the knower and the knowable, and the supreme abode. O Lord of infinite forms, the entire universe is pervaded by You.
~~~
vāyur yamo ’gnir varuṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ
prajāpatis tvaṁ prapitāmahaś cha
namo namas te ’stu sahasra-kṛtvaḥ
punaś cha bhūyo ’pi namo namas te [39]
tvam vāyuḥ–You are the god of air; yamaḥ–the god of death; agniḥ–the god of fire; varuṇaḥ–the god of the ocean; śaśāṅkaḥ–the god of the moon; prajāpatiḥ–the universal father, Lord Brahmā; prapitāmahaḥ cha–and the grandfather, too. namaḥ astu–My obeisances; te–unto You; sahasra-kṛtvaḥ–thousands of times; puṇaḥ cha namaḥ–and again obeisances; bhūyaḥ api–and yet again; namaḥ namaḥ–obeisances, obeisances; te–unto You.
39 You are the father and grandfather of all beings, You are air, death, fire, the ocean and the moon. Obeisances unto You thousands of times, again and yet again.
~~~
namaḥ purastād atha pṛṣṭhatas te
namo ’stu te sarvata eva sarva
ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas tvaṁ
sarvaṁ samāpnoṣi tato ’si sarvaḥ [40]
{he} sarva–O embodiment of all existences; namaḥ–my obeisances; te–unto You; purastāt–from the front; atha–and; pṛṣṭhataḥ–from the rear. namaḥ astu–I offer obeisances; te–unto You; eva–indeed; sarvataḥ–from all directions. {he} ananta-vīrya– O Lord of infinite potency; amita-vikramaḥ–of immeasurable prowess; tvam–You; samāpnoṣi–pervade; sarvam–all; tataḥ–therefore; asi–You are; sarvaḥ–all.
40 O embodiment of all existences, my obeisances unto You from the front, behind and all directions. O Lord of unlimited potency and immeasurable prowess, You pervade all, therefore You are all.
~~~
sakheti matvā prasabhaṁ yad uktaṁ
he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakheti
ajānatā mahimānaṁ tavedaṁ
mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi [41]
yach chāvahāsārtham asatkṛto ’si
vihāra-śayyāsana-bhojaneṣu
eko ’thavāpy achyuta tat-samakṣaṁ
tat kṣāmaye tvām aham aprameyam [42]
ajānatā–Not knowing; tava–Your; mahimānam–greatness; idam cha–and this {universal form}; pramādāt–inadvertantly; praṇayena vā api–and due to intimacy; sakhā iti matvā–thinking of You as a friend; yat uktam–whatever has been said; prasabham– rashly; mayā–by me; iti–thus: he kṛṣṇa–“O Kṛṣṇa; he yādava–Yādava; he sakhe–my friend”; {he} achyuta–O infallible one; yat asat-kṛtaḥ asi–whatever disrespect I have shown You; avahāsa-artham–in jest; vihāra-śayyā-āsana-bhojaneṣu–in recreation, resting, sitting, eating; ekaḥ–alone; athavā–or; api–even; tat-samakṣam–in the presence of others; tat–for all this; aham–I; tvām aprameyam kṣāmaye–beg You, the inconceivable, to please forgive me.
41, 42 Due to the familarity of affection I have rashly addressed You, “Kṛṣṇa,” “Yādava,” or “my friend,” ignorant of this Your greatness. O infallible Lord, whatever disrespect I have shown You—in jest, while relaxing, resting, sitting or eating, either alone with You or in company—I beg You, the inconceivable, to please forgive me for that.
~~~
pitāsi lokasya charācharasya
tvam asya pūjyaś cha gurur garīyān
na tvat-samo ’sty abhyadhikaḥ kuto ’nyo
loka-traye ’py apratima-prabhāva [43]
tvam asi–You are; pitā–the father; asya lokasya–of this universe; chara-acharasya– of moving and stationary beings; pūjyaḥ–the worshippable; garīyān–most glorious; guruḥ–teacher; cha–and; api–indeed; na asti–there is no one; tvat-samaḥ–equal to You; loka-traye–within the three worlds; kutaḥ–so how can; anyaḥ–another; abhyadhikaḥ– be superior; {he} apratima-prabhāva–O Lord of unrivalled power!
43 You are the father of all living beings, the worshippable and most glorious teacher. You have no equal within these three worlds. How can there be anyone greater than You, O Lord of unrivalled power!
~~~
tasmāt praṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṁ
prasādaye tvām aham īśam īḍyam
piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ
priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum [44]
{he} deva–O Lord; tasmāt–therefore; kāyam praṇidhāya–prostrating my body; praṇamya–in obeisance; aham prasādaye–I am propitiating; tvām–You; īḍyam–the worshippable; īśam–Lord. iva–As; pitā sakhā priyaḥ–a father, friend or lover {forgive}; putrasya sakhyuḥ priyāyāḥ–{the mistakes} of a son, friend or beloved; {tvam}– You; {tathā} iva–similarly; arhasi–please; soḍhum–forgive {me}.
44 So I offer my prostrate obeisance unto You, my Lord and worshippable master, praying for Your mercy. Please excuse me as a father, friend or lover overlooks the mistakes of his son, companion or beloved.
~~~
adṛṣṭa-pūrvaṁ hṛṣito ’smi dṛṣṭvā
bhayena cha pravyathitaṁ mano me
tad eva me darśaya deva rūpaṁ
prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa [45]
{he} deva–O Lord; dṛṣṭvā–seeing; {idam} adṛṣṭa-pūrvam–this previously unseen universal form of Yours; hṛṣitaḥ asmi–I am joyful; cha–and then again; me–my; manaḥ–mind; bhayena pravyathitam–is distraught with fear. {he} deva-īśa–O God of gods; {he} jagat-nivāsa–O refuge of the universe; prasīda–may You be gracious; darśaya–to show; me–me; tat eva rūpam–that form You showed before.
45 O Lord, my heart is joyful to see Your hitherto unseen universal form. Yet, I am afraid. O God of gods, shelter of the universe, be gracious upon me and appear in the form I saw before.
~~~
kirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ chakra-hastam
ichchhāmi tvāṁ draṣṭum ahaṁ tathaiva
tenaiva rūpeṇa chatur-bhujena
sahasra-bāho bhava viśva-mūrte [46]
aham–I; ichchhāmi–wish; draṣṭum–to see; tvām–You; tathā eva–as previously; kirīṭinam–with crown; gadinam–club; chakra-hastam–and holding the disc. {he} sahasra-bāho–O Lord with a thousand arms; {he} viśva-mūrte–O universal form; bhava–may You appear; tena chatuḥ-bhujena rūpeṇa eva–in that form of four arms.
46 I wish to see You again wearing a crown and holding a club and disc. O thousand-armed Lord, O universal form, please appear in that four-armed form.
~~~
śrī-bhagavān uvācha
mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṁ
rūpaṁ paraṁ darśitam ātma-yogāt
tejomayaṁ viśvam anantam ādyaṁ
yan me tvad-anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam [47]
śrī-bhagavān uvācha–The Supreme Lord said: {he} arjuna–O Arjuna; prasannena– being satisfied; idam–this; tejaḥ-mayam–effulgent; anantam–infinite; ādyam–and primeval; param–supreme; viśvam–universal; rūpam–form; me–of Mine; yat–which; na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam–was not seen previously; tvat-anyena–by anyone else; darśītam– has been shown; tava–to you; mayā–by Me; ātma-yogāt–by My divine potency, Yoga-māya.
47 The Supreme Lord said: O Arjuna, to grant you My special favour I have today revealed this effulgent, universal, infinite and primeval form, by My divine potency. This supreme universal form has never been seen by anyone before.
~~~
na veda-yajñādhyayanair na dānair
na cha kriyābhir na tapobhir ugraiḥ
evaṁ-rūpaḥ śakya ahaṁ nṛloke
draṣṭuṁ tvad-anyena kuru-pravīra [48]
{he} kuru-pravīra–O most valiant of the Kauravas; nṛ-loke–in this human plane;
na veda-yajña-adhyayanaiḥ–neither by study of the Vedas or Vedic sacrifices; na
dānaiḥ–nor by giving land, etc. in charity; na kriyābhiḥ–nor by rituals; na cha tapobhiḥ
ugraiḥ–nor by severe austerity; śakyaḥ–can; aham–I; draṣṭum–be seen; evamrū
paḥ–in such a {universal} form; tvat-anyena–by persons other than you.
48 O Arjuna, most valiant of the Kauravas, no one in
this human plane can see this form of Mine that you
have seen, neither by study of the Vedas, nor Vedic
sacrifices, nor charity, nor rituals, nor severe austerity.
~~~
mā te vyathā mā cha vimūḍha-bhāvo
dṛṣṭvā rūpaṁ ghoram īdṛṅ mamedam
vyapeta-bhīḥ prīta-manāḥ punas tvaṁ
tad eva me rūpam idaṁ prapaśya [49]
te vyathā mā {astu}–Be not bewildered; dṛṣṭvā–seeing; mama rūpam–My form; īdṛk idam ghoram–of such terrible feature; cha–and; mā {astu}–be not; vimūḍhabhāvaḥ– bewildered. vyapeta-bhīḥ {san}–Being free of fear; prīta-manāḥ–and contented; tvam prapaśya–behold; idam–this; tat rūpam eva–four-armed form; me–of Mine; punaḥ–again.
49 Be not bewildered by seeing this terrible aspect of Mine. Do not fear. Now, with a peaceful heart, behold My four-armed form once again.
~~~
sañjaya uvācha
ity arjunaṁ vāsudevas tathoktvā
svakaṁ rūpaṁ darśayāmāsa bhūyaḥ
āśvāsayāmāsa cha bhītam enaṁ
bhūtvā punaḥ saumya-vapur mahātmā [50]
sañjayaḥ uvācha–Sañjaya said: uktvā–speaking; iti–thus; arjunam–to Arjuna; vāsudevaḥ–Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhūyaḥ–again; darśayāmāsa–revealed; tathā svakam rūpam– His own form; punaḥ cha–and once again; bhūtvā–appearing; mahā-ātmā–as the most merciful Śrī Kṛṣṇa; saumya-vapuḥ–of charming {human} feature, dressed in yellow as familiar to Arjuna; āśvāsayāmāsa–He pacified; enam bhītam–the fearful Arjuna.
50 Sañjaya said: Speaking thus to Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa again revealed His own form. And once again, He revealed His charming personality—the most merciful Śrī Kṛṣṇa {of human feature, adorned with yellow cloth, Kaustubha jewel and Vaijayanti garland}, thus reassuring the fearful Arjuna.
~~~
arjuna uvācha
dṛṣṭvedam mānuṣaṁ rūpaṁ, tava saumyaṁ janārdana
idānīm asmi saṁvṛttaḥ, sa-chetāḥ prakṛtiṁ gataḥ [51]
arjunaḥ uvācha–Arjuna said: {he} janārdana–O Kṛṣṇa; dṛṣṭvā–seeing; idam–this; saumyam–charming; mānuṣam–human-featured; rūpam–form; tava–of Yours; idānīm– now; sa-chetāḥ saṁvṛttaḥ–I am pacified; prakṛtim gataḥ asmi–and composed again.
51 Arjuna said: O Janārdana, seeing Your beautiful form of human feature I am calm and composed once again.
~~~
śrī-bhagavān uvācha
sudurdarśam idaṁ rūpaṁ, dṛṣṭavān asi yan mama
devā apy asya rūpasya, nityaṁ darśana-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ [52]
śrī-bhagavān uvācha–The Supreme Lord said: idam rūpam–this sach-chid-ānanda form; mama–of Mine; yat–which; {tvam}–you; dṛṣṭavān asi–are seeing before you; sudurdarśam–is very rarely seen. devāḥ api–Even the demigods; nityam darśanakāṅ kṣiṇaḥ–ever aspire for a glimpse; asya rūpasya–of this form.
52 The Supreme Lord said: O Arjuna, it is very rare that anyone sees this My form which you now behold. Even the gods constantly aspire for a glimpse of this humanlike divine form.
~~~
nāhaṁ vedair na tapasā, na dānena na chejyayā
śakya evaṁ-vidho draṣṭuṁ, dṛṣṭavān asi yan mama [53]
na vedaiḥ–Neither by study of the Vedas; na tapasā–nor by severe austerities such as the chāndrāyaṇa vow; na dānena–nor by giving land, etc. in charity; na ijyayā cha– nor by great sacrifices such as Agniṣṭoma; {kaśchit} śakyaḥ–is anyone able; draṣṭum aham–to see Me; evam-vidhaḥ mama–in this eternal form of Mine, of human features; yat–which; {tvam}–you; dṛṣṭavān asi–are seeing.
53 Neither by study of the Vedas, nor by austerity, charity, and sacrifice can anyone see My eternal humanlike form of the Sweet Absolute as you see Me.
~~~
bhaktyā tv ananyayā śakya, aham evaṁ-vidho ’rjuna
jñātuṁ draṣṭum cha tattvena, praveṣṭuṁ cha parantapa [54]
{he} parantapa–O conqueror of the enemy; {he} arjuna–O Arjuna; tu–yet; evamvidhaḥ– in this form; aham śakyaḥ {asmi}–can I; jñātum–be known; tattvena–in truth; draṣṭum cha–and be seen; praveṣṭum cha–and My pastimes be entered into; ananyayā–by exclusive; bhaktyā–devotion; {bhaktena}–by the pure devotee.
54 O Arjuna, conqueror of the enemy, only by pure devotion is it possible to know Me, see Me, and enter My divine pastimes.
~~~
mat-karma-kṛn mat-paramo, mad-bhaktaḥ saṅga-varjitaḥ
nirvairaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu, yaḥ sa mām eti pāṇḍava [55]
{he} pāṇḍava–O son of Pāṇḍu; mat-bhaktaḥ–My devotee; yaḥ–who; mat-karmakṛ t–serves Me; mat-paramaḥ–knowing Me as the supreme; {yaḥ} saṅga-varjitaḥ– giving up all attachment to material objects; nirvairaḥ–and free from enmity; sarvabhū teṣu–towards all beings; saḥ–such a person; eti–attains; mām–Me.
55 O Arjuna, My devotee who gives up all attachments and whose heart is totally free from enmity to all beings, who serves Me wholeheartedly, knowing Me as the Supreme, reaches Me.
~~~
iti śrī-mahābhārate śata-sāhasryāṁ saṁhitāyāṁ vaiyāsikyāṁ
bhīṣma-parvaṇi śrīmad-bhagavad-gītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṁ
yoga-śāstre śrī-kṛṣṇārjuna-saṁvāde viśva-rūpadarśana-
yogo namaikādaśo ’dhyāyaḥ [11]
End of Chapter Eleven
The Vision of the Universal Form
from the conversation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna in Śrīmad Bhagavad-Gītā Upaniṣad, the Yoga Scripture of Transcendental Knowledge in Bhīṣma Parva of Śrī Mahābhārata, the Holy Scripture revealed by Śrīla Vyāsadeva in a hundred thousand verses.
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