Chapter 11 · 55 verses

The Vision of the Universal Form विश्वरूपदर्शनयोग

At Arjuna's request Krishna grants him divine sight and reveals his cosmic form. Arjuna praises him in awe and fear, and Krishna then resumes his gentle human form.

This English meaning is newly written by Bhajan Dhun and is still being reviewed by scholars.

1. 11.1

   अर्जुन उवाच

   मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम् ।
   यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम ॥११.१॥

   Arjuna said: Out of grace to me you have spoken the supreme secret concerning the Self, and by your words my delusion is gone.

2. 11.2

   भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया ।
   त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ॥११.२॥

   O lotus-eyed one, I have heard from you in detail of the origin and dissolution of beings, and of your imperishable greatness.

3. 11.3

   एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर ।
   द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ॥११.३॥

   O Supreme Lord, it is just as you have described yourself. Yet I long to see your divine form, O Supreme Person.

4. 11.4

   मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो ।
   योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयाऽत्मानमव्ययम् ॥११.४॥

   O Lord, if you think it possible for me to see it, then, O master of yoga, show me your imperishable Self.

5. 11.5

   श्री भगवानुवाच

   पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ।
   नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च ॥११.५॥

   The Lord said: Behold, O Partha, my forms by the hundreds and thousands — divine, of many kinds, of many colours and shapes.

6. 11.6

   पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा ।
   बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याऽश्चर्याणि भारत ॥११.६॥

   Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvins and the Maruts; behold, O Bharata, many wonders never seen before.

7. 11.7

   इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम् ।
   मम देहे गुडाकेश यच्चान्यद्द्रष्टुमिच्छसि ॥११.७॥

   Behold today, O Gudakesha, the whole universe, moving and unmoving, gathered here in my body, and whatever else you wish to see.

8. 11.8

   न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा ।
   दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ॥११.८॥

   But you cannot see me with these eyes of yours. I give you divine sight — behold my divine power.

9. 11.9

   सञ्जय उवाच

   एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः ।
   दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम् ॥११.९॥

   Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus, O King, Hari, the great master of yoga, revealed to Partha his supreme divine form,

10. 11.10

    अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम् ।
    अनेकदिव्याभरणं दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम् ॥११.१०॥

    with countless mouths and eyes, countless wondrous sights, countless divine ornaments and countless divine weapons raised,

11. 11.11

    दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् ।
    सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवमनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम् ॥११.११॥

    wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances — all-wondrous, resplendent, endless, facing every direction.

12. 11.12

    दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता ।
    यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥११.१२॥

    If the light of a thousand suns were to blaze forth all at once in the sky, it might resemble the splendour of that great being.

13. 11.13

    तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा ।
    अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा ॥११.१३॥

    There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna then saw the whole universe, with its many divisions, gathered in one place.

14. 11.14

    ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः ।
    प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ॥११.१४॥

    Then Arjuna, filled with wonder, his hair standing on end, bowed his head to the Lord and spoke with joined palms.

15. 11.15

    अर्जुन उवाच

    पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान् ।
    ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थ मृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान् ॥११.१५॥

    Arjuna said: O God, in your body I see all the gods and hosts of different beings; Brahma seated on the lotus, Shiva, all the sages and the celestial serpents.

16. 11.16

    अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम् ।
    नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप ॥११.१६॥

    I see you everywhere, infinite in form, with countless arms, bellies, mouths and eyes. O Lord of the universe, O universal form, I see no end, no middle and no beginning of you.

17. 11.17

    किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च तेजोराशिं सर्वतोदीप्तिमन्तम् ।
    पश्यामि त्वां दुर्निरीक्ष्यं समन्ता द्दीप्तानलार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम् ॥११.१७॥

    I see you with crown, mace and discus, a mass of radiance shining everywhere, hard to behold, blazing on all sides like fire and the sun, beyond measure.

18. 11.18

    त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् ।
    त्वमव्ययः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे ॥११.१८॥

    You are the imperishable, the supreme to be known; you are the ultimate refuge of this universe. You are the undying guardian of eternal dharma; you are, I believe, the eternal Person.

19. 11.19

    अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम् ।
    पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रम् स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् ॥११.१९॥

    I see you without beginning, middle or end, of infinite power, with countless arms, the sun and moon as your eyes, your mouth a blazing fire, scorching this universe with your radiance.

20. 11.20

    द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः ।
    दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन् ॥११.२०॥

    The space between heaven and earth and all the directions are filled by you alone. Seeing this wondrous and terrible form of yours, O great one, the three worlds tremble.

21. 11.21

    अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घाः विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति ।
    स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ॥११.२१॥

    Hosts of gods enter into you; some, in fear, praise you with joined palms. Crying "May all be well!", bands of great sages and perfected ones praise you with abundant hymns.

22. 11.22

    रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या विश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च ।
    गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घा वीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे ॥११.२२॥

    The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus and Sadhyas, the Vishvadevas, the Ashvins, the Maruts and the ancestors, and hosts of gandharvas, yakshas, asuras and siddhas all gaze at you in amazement.

23. 11.23

    रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम् ।
    बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालं दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाऽहम् ॥११.२३॥

    O mighty-armed, seeing your immense form with many mouths and eyes, many arms, thighs and feet, many bellies and many terrible tusks, the worlds are terrified — and so am I.

24. 11.24

    नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् ।
    दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो ॥११.२४॥

    O Vishnu, seeing you touching the sky, blazing with many colours, mouths wide open and great eyes ablaze, my heart trembles within; I find no courage and no peace.

25. 11.25

    दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि ।
    दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥११.२५॥

    Seeing your mouths with terrible tusks, like the fires of cosmic dissolution, I lose my sense of direction and find no peace. Be gracious, Lord of gods, refuge of the universe.

26. 11.26

    अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः ।
    भीष्मो द्रोणः सूतपुत्रस्तथाऽसौ सहास्मदीयैरपि योधमुख्यैः ॥११.२६॥

    All these sons of Dhritarashtra, with the hosts of kings, Bhishma, Drona and Karna the charioteer's son, together with the chief warriors on our side too,

27. 11.27

    वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि ।
    केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु संदृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः ॥११.२७॥

    are rushing into your fearful mouths with their terrible tusks. Some are seen caught between your teeth, their heads crushed to powder.

28. 11.28

    यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः समुद्रमेवाभिमुखाः द्रवन्ति ।
    तथा तवामी नरलोकवीरा विशन्ति वक्त्राण्यभिविज्वलन्ति ॥११.२८॥

    As the many torrents of rivers rush towards the ocean, so these heroes of the human world enter your flaming mouths.

29. 11.29

    यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः ।
    तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोका स्तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः ॥११.२९॥

    As moths rush swiftly into a blazing fire to their destruction, so these worlds rush swiftly into your mouths to their destruction.

30. 11.30

    लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ता ल्लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः ।
    तेजोभिरापूर्य जगत्समग्रं भासस्तवोग्राः प्रतपन्ति विष्णो ॥११.३०॥

    Devouring all the worlds on every side with your flaming mouths, you lick your lips. Your fierce rays fill the whole universe with radiance and scorch it, O Vishnu.

31. 11.31

    आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद ।
    विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम् ॥११.३१॥

    Tell me, who are you, so fierce in form? I bow to you, O best of gods; be gracious. I wish to know you, the primal one, for I do not understand your purpose.

32. 11.32

    श्री भगवानुवाच

    कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः ।
    ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः ॥११.३२॥

    The Lord said: I am Time, the mighty destroyer of worlds, now engaged in destroying these people. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the opposing armies will survive.

33. 11.33

    तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् ।
    मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥११.३३॥

    Therefore arise and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. They have already been slain by me; be merely the instrument, O ambidextrous archer.

34. 11.34

    द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथाऽन्यानपि योधवीरान् ।
    मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ॥११.३४॥

    Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other heroic warriors are already slain by me. Kill them; do not be troubled. Fight — you will conquer your enemies in battle.

35. 11.35

    सञ्जय उवाच

    एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी ।
    नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य ॥११.३५॥

    Sanjaya said: Hearing these words of Keshava, the crowned Arjuna, trembling and with joined palms, bowed and, overwhelmed with fear, spoke to Krishna in a choking voice.

36. 11.36

    अर्जुन उवाच

    स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या जगत् प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च ।
    रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्ति सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः ॥११.३६॥

    Arjuna said: O Hrishikesha, it is fitting that the world rejoices and delights in your glory; the demons flee in terror in all directions, and all the hosts of the perfected bow to you.

37. 11.37

    कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन् गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे ।
    अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत् ॥११.३७॥

    And why should they not bow to you, O great one, greater even than Brahma and his first cause? O infinite one, Lord of gods, refuge of the universe, you are the imperishable — being, non-being and what lies beyond both.

38. 11.38

    त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराण स्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् ।
    वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप ॥११.३८॥

    You are the first God, the ancient Person, the supreme refuge of this universe. You are the knower and the known and the highest abode. By you, O infinite form, the universe is pervaded.

39. 11.39

    वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च ।
    नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वः पुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते ॥११.३९॥

    You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, Prajapati and the great-grandsire. Salutations to you a thousand times, and again and again salutations to you.

40. 11.40

    नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व ।
    अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ॥११.४०॥

    Salutations to you in front and behind, salutations on every side, O All. Infinite in power and boundless in might, you pervade everything; therefore you are everything.

41. 11.41

    सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति ।
    अजानता महिमानं तवेदं मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि ॥११.४१॥

    Whatever I said rashly, thinking of you as a friend — "O Krishna, O Yadava, O friend" — unaware of your greatness, out of carelessness or affection,

42. 11.42

    यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु ।
    एकोऽथवाप्यच्युत तत्समक्षं तत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम् ॥११.४२॥

    and whatever disrespect I showed you in jest, while playing, resting, sitting or eating, alone or in front of others, O Achyuta — for all that I ask forgiveness of you, the immeasurable.

43. 11.43

    पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान् ।
    न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव ॥११.४३॥

    You are the father of the world, of all that moves and does not move; you are its object of worship and its greatest teacher. None equals you in the three worlds — how could anyone surpass you, O one of incomparable power?

44. 11.44

    तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम् ।
    पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम् ॥११.४४॥

    So, bowing down and prostrating my body, I seek your grace, O adorable Lord. As a father forgives a son, a friend a friend, a lover the beloved, so please forgive me, O God.

45. 11.45

    अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे ।
    तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपं प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥११.४५॥

    I rejoice at having seen what was never seen before, yet my mind is shaken with fear. Show me again that form of yours, O God; be gracious, Lord of gods, refuge of the universe.

46. 11.46

    किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्त मिच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव ।
    तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेन सहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते ॥११.४६॥

    I wish to see you as before, wearing a crown and holding mace and discus. Take on that four-armed form, O thousand-armed one, O universal form.

47. 11.47

    श्री भगवानुवाच

    मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात् ।
    तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम् ॥११.४७॥

    The Lord said: O Arjuna, out of grace and by my own power, I have shown you this supreme, radiant, infinite, primal universal form, which no one but you has seen before.

48. 11.48

    न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः ।
    एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर ॥११.४८॥

    Not by study of the Vedas, nor by sacrifice, charity, rituals or severe austerities can I be seen in this form in the human world by anyone but you, O hero of the Kurus.

49. 11.49

    मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम् ।
    व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य ॥११.४९॥

    Do not be afraid or bewildered at seeing this terrible form of mine. Free from fear and glad at heart, behold once more my familiar form.

50. 11.50

    सञ्जय उवाच

    इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः ।
    आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनं भूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा ॥११.५०॥

    Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Arjuna, Vasudeva showed his own form again, and, taking his gentle form once more, the great one comforted the frightened Arjuna.

51. 11.51

    अर्जुन उवाच

    दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तव सौम्यं जनार्दन ।
    इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः ॥११.५१॥

    Arjuna said: O Janardana, seeing this gentle human form of yours, I am now composed and have returned to my normal state.

52. 11.52

    श्री भगवानुवाच

    सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम ।
    देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥११.५२॥

    The Lord said: This form of mine that you have seen is very hard to see. Even the gods ever long for a vision of it.

53. 11.53

    नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया ।
    शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा ॥११.५३॥

    Not by the Vedas, nor by austerity, charity or sacrifice can I be seen as you have seen me.

54. 11.54

    भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्यमहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन ।
    ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परंतप ॥११.५४॥

    But by undivided devotion, O Arjuna, I can be known in this way, seen in truth and entered into, O scorcher of foes.

55. 11.55

    मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः ।
    निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु यः स मामेति पाण्डव ॥११.५५॥

    One who works for me, holds me as the supreme goal, is devoted to me, free from attachment and without enmity towards any being, comes to me, O son of Pandu.