Chapter 11

विश्वरूपदर्शनयोग

The Cosmic Form (Viśvarūpadarśanayoga)

Arjuna asks to see Krishna's universal form and is given divine sight. He sees the entire cosmos, all of time and the fate of the warriors inside one vast form, and, shaken and humbled, begs Krishna to return to his gentle human appearance.

Seeing the bigger picture shrinks our ego and our fears together.

11.1मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम्।Arjuna says to Krishna: Out of kindness to me, you have spoken this supreme and secret teaching about the Self. Because of your words, my confusion has gone.
11.2भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया।Arjuna continues: O lotus-eyed one, I have heard from you in detail how all beings arise and dissolve, and also about your own greatness, which never fades.
11.3एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर।Arjuna says: O Supreme Lord, you are exactly as you have described yourself. Yet, O greatest of beings, I wish to see your divine form of power with my own eyes.
11.4मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो।Arjuna adds: O Lord, master of yoga, if you think I am able to see it, then please show me your imperishable Self.
11.5पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः।Krishna replies: Arjuna, behold my forms in hundreds and thousands, many kinds, divine, of countless colours and shapes.
11.6पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा।Krishna says: See the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, the twin Ashvins and the Maruts (groups of gods). See, Arjuna, many wonders never seen before.
11.7इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम्।Krishna says: Arjuna, conqueror of sleep, see here today, all in one place within my body, the entire universe of moving and unmoving things, and anything else you wish to see.
11.8न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा।Krishna says: But you cannot see me with these ordinary eyes of yours. I give you divine sight. Now see my sovereign power.
11.9एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः।Sanjaya tells King Dhritarashtra: Having said this, O King, Hari, the great master of yoga, revealed to Arjuna his supreme, divine form.
11.10अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम्।Sanjaya describes the form: it had countless mouths and eyes, countless wondrous sights, countless divine ornaments, and countless divine weapons held raised.
11.11दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्।Sanjaya continues: The Lord wore divine garlands and garments, was anointed with heavenly fragrances, full of every wonder, radiant, endless, with faces turned in every direction.
11.12दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता।Sanjaya says: If the light of a thousand suns were to blaze up in the sky all at once, it might perhaps resemble the brilliance of that great being.
11.13तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा।Sanjaya says: There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna then saw the whole universe resting in one place, though divided in many ways.
11.14ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः।Sanjaya says: Then Arjuna, filled with amazement, his hair standing on end, bowed his head to the Lord and, with folded hands, spoke.
11.15पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान्।Arjuna says: O God, in your body I see all the gods and every kind of being gathered together: Brahma seated on the lotus, Shiva, all the sages and the divine serpents.
11.16अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम्।Arjuna says: I see you everywhere, endless in form, with countless arms, bellies, mouths and eyes. Lord of the universe, I see no end, no middle and no beginning to you.
11.17किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च तेजोराशिं सर्वतोदीप्तिमन्तम्।Arjuna says: I see you wearing a crown, holding a mace and a discus, a mass of light shining on all sides, hard to look at, blazing like fire and the sun, beyond measure.
11.18त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्।Arjuna says: You are the imperishable, the highest truth to be known, the final resting place of this universe. You are the undying guardian of eternal dharma (the lasting moral order). I see you as the timeless Supreme Being.
11.19अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्।Arjuna says: I see you without beginning, middle or end, of infinite power, with countless arms, the moon and sun as your eyes, your mouth a blazing fire, heating this whole universe with your radiance.
11.20द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः।Arjuna says: The space between heaven and earth, and every direction, is filled by you alone. O great one, seeing this wondrous and fearsome form of yours, the three worlds tremble.
11.21अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घाः विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति।Arjuna says: Hosts of gods are entering into you; some, afraid, praise you with folded hands. Great sages and perfected ones cry 'May all be well!' and praise you with many hymns.
11.22रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या विश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च।Arjuna says: The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Vishvedevas, the Ashvins, the Maruts and the ancestors, along with hosts of Gandharvas, Yakshas, demons and perfected ones, all gaze at you in amazement.
11.23रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम्।Arjuna says: O mighty-armed one, seeing your vast form with many mouths and eyes, many arms, thighs and feet, many bellies and terrible fangs, the worlds are shaken, and so am I.
11.24नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम्।Arjuna says: O Vishnu, seeing you touching the sky, blazing, many-coloured, with mouths wide open and huge fiery eyes, I am shaken to the core. I find neither courage nor peace.
11.25दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि।Arjuna says: Seeing your mouths with terrible fangs, glowing like the fire at the end of time, I lose all sense of direction and find no shelter. Be gracious, Lord of gods, refuge of the world.
11.26अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः।Arjuna sees all the sons of Dhritarashtra with crowds of allied kings, Bhishma, Drona and Karna, and even the leading warriors of his own side. The next verse tells what is happening to them.
11.27वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि।Arjuna continues: they are rushing into your fearsome mouths with terrible fangs. Some are seen caught between your teeth, their heads crushed to powder.
11.28यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः समुद्रमेवाभिमुखाः द्रवन्ति।Arjuna says: As the many currents of rivers rush towards the ocean, so these heroes of the human world are entering your flaming mouths.
11.29यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः।Arjuna says: As moths rush at full speed into a blazing fire to their destruction, so these people rush at full speed into your mouths to their destruction.
11.30लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ता ल्लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः।Arjuna says: O Vishnu, devouring the worlds on every side with your flaming mouths, you lick your lips. Your fierce rays fill the whole universe with light and scorch it.
11.31आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद।Arjuna pleads: Tell me who you are in this fierce form. I bow to you, greatest of gods; be gracious. I want to know you, the original one, for I do not understand what you are doing.
11.32कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः।Krishna answers: I am Time, the mighty destroyer of worlds, now set on ending these people. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the opposing armies will survive.
11.33तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्।Krishna says: So stand up and win glory. Defeat your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. I have already struck them down; you, the skilled archer who shoots with either hand, be only my instrument.
11.34द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथाऽन्यानपि योधवीरान्।Krishna says: Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other great warriors are already slain by me. Strike them; do not be distressed. Fight, and you will defeat your rivals in battle.
11.35एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी।Sanjaya says: Hearing Krishna's words, Arjuna, the crowned one, trembling, with folded hands, bowed again and again and, overcome with fear, spoke to Krishna in a choked voice.
11.36स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या जगत् प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च।Arjuna says: It is fitting, Krishna, that the world rejoices and delights in praising you. Frightened demons flee in all directions, and hosts of perfected ones bow to you.
11.37कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन् गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे।Arjuna says: And why should they not bow to you, great one, greater even than Brahma, the first creator? Infinite Lord of gods, home of the world, you are the imperishable: what is, what is not, and what lies beyond both.
11.38त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराण स्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्।Arjuna says: You are the first God, the ancient Being, the final resting place of this universe. You are the knower and what is to be known, the highest abode. The whole universe is pervaded by you, O endless one.
11.39वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च।Arjuna says: You are Vayu (wind), Yama (death), Agni (fire), Varuna (waters), the moon, Prajapati the creator and the great-grandfather of all. Salutations to you a thousand times, and again and again, salutations to you.
11.40नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व।Arjuna says: Salutations to you in front and behind, salutations on every side, O All. Your strength is endless and your power immeasurable. You pervade everything, and so you are everything.
11.41सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति।Arjuna says: Thinking of you as just a friend, I casually called you 'O Krishna, O Yadava, O friend', not knowing your greatness, out of carelessness or out of affection.
11.42यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु।Arjuna says: And if, in jest, I showed you disrespect while playing, resting, sitting or eating, alone or in front of others, O unshakable one, I ask forgiveness from you, the immeasurable.
11.43पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान्।Arjuna says: You are the father of this world of moving and unmoving things, its most worthy object of worship and its greatest teacher. No one in the three worlds equals you, so how could anyone surpass you, O one of matchless power?
11.44तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम्।Arjuna says: So I bow down, laying my body before you, and seek your grace, adorable Lord. Bear with me, O God, as a father bears with his son, a friend with a friend, a lover with the beloved.
11.45अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे।Arjuna says: I am thrilled to have seen what no one has seen before, yet my mind is shaken with fear. Show me, O God, that same familiar form of yours. Be gracious, Lord of gods, home of the world.
11.46किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्त मिच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव।Arjuna says: I wish to see you as before, wearing a crown, holding a mace and a discus in hand. O thousand-armed one, form of the universe, take again your four-armed form.
11.47मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात्।Krishna says: Arjuna, out of my goodwill and by my own power, I have shown you this supreme form, radiant, universal, endless and original, which no one but you has seen before.
11.48न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः।Krishna says: Not by study of the Vedas, nor by sacrifices, nor by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by severe austerities can anyone in the human world see me in this form, except you, O hero of the Kurus.
11.49मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम्।Krishna says: Do not be afraid or bewildered at seeing this terrible form of mine. Free from fear and with a glad heart, look again at my familiar form.
11.50इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः।Sanjaya says: Having spoken this way to Arjuna, Krishna showed his own form once more. The great one, taking again his gentle form, comforted the frightened Arjuna.
11.51दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तवसौम्यं जनार्दन।Arjuna says: O Krishna, seeing this gentle human form of yours, I have now become calm, and my mind has returned to its natural state.
11.52सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम।Krishna says: This form of mine that you have seen is very hard to see. Even the gods always long for a vision of it.
11.53नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया।Krishna says: Not by the Vedas, not by austerity, not by charity, not by ritual worship can I be seen in the way you have seen me.
11.54भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्यमहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन।Krishna says: But by undivided devotion alone, Arjuna, can I be known in this form, truly seen, and even entered into, O scorcher of foes.
11.55मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः।Krishna says: Whoever works for me, holds me as the highest goal, is devoted to me, is free from attachment and bears ill will towards no being, comes to me, Arjuna.