Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 11 – The Vision of Universal Form of God (Vishwaroop Darshan Yoga)

#Bhagavad #Gita 

Chapter 11: The Vision of Universal Form of God (Vishwaroop Darshan Yoga)

In Chapter 11 of Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna is beseeched by Arjuna to reveal his universal form showing all of existence

• Section-1 (Shloka 1-4)Arjuna requests for vision of Lord’s ‘Universal Form’.
• Section-2 (Shloka 5-8)
  • Lord describes His ‘Universal Form’.
• Section-3 (Shloka 9-14)
  • Sanjay describes the ‘Universal Form’ and prays
• Section-4 (Shloka 15-31)
  • Arjuna sees the ‘Universal Form’ and prays
• Section-5 (Shloka 32-34)
  • God describes His glories and exhorts Arjuna to fight
• Section-6 (Shloka 35-46)
  • Overtaken by fright Arjuna offers prayers, and requests for the ‘Four-armed Form’
• Section-7 (Shloka 47-50)
  • Lord describes glory of His ‘Universal Form’ and shows ‘Four-armed Form’
• Section-8 (Shloka 51-55)
  • Impossibility of seeing ‘Four-armed Form’ without exclusive devotion

11.1 Arjuna said
Thanks to the most profound words of spiritual wisdom that You have spoken out of kindness to me, the delusion of mine has entirely disappeared.

11.1 Arjuna uvaach
madunugrahe paramam guham adhyatma sanjitam; yatvayoktam vachasten mohoayam vigto mam

11.2 For, Krishna, I have heard from You in detail an account of the evolution and dissolution of beings, and also Your immortal glory.

11.2 bhavapi uauuo hi bhutanam shrutau vistarsho mya; twata kamal patraksha mahatmyam-api cha-avayam

11.3 Lord, You are precisely what You declare Yourself to be. But I long to see Your divine form (possessed of wisdom, glory, energy, strength, valor and effulgence), O Best of persons !

11.3 aivam-atatet-yathath twa-atmanam parmeshwara; drishtum ichchami te rupam aishwaram purushotma

11.4 Krishna, if you think that it can be seen by me, then, O Lord of yoga, reveal to me Your imperishable form.

11.4 manyase yadi tachchakyam mayaa drashtumiti prabho; yogeshavarah tato me tvam darshyaatmaanaamaavyayam

11.5 Shree Bhagwan said
Arjuna, behold presently in hundreds and thousands My multifarious divine forms, of various colors and shapes.

11.5 Shree Bhagwanovaach
pashya me partha rupani shatsho-atha sahastrasha; nana vidhani divyani nana varna-akritini cha

11.6 Behold in Me, Arjuna, the twelve sons of Aditi, the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, (gods of destruction ), the two Ashwanikumaras ( the twin-born physicians of gods ), and witness many more wonderful forms never seen before.

11.6 pashya-adityan-vasun-rudran- ashwino marutastatha; bahuni-adrisht-purvani pashya-ashchryani bharat

11.7 Arjuna, behold as concentrated within this body of Mine the entire creation consisting of both animate and inanimate beings, and whatever else you desire to see.

11.7 ihaikastham jagatkritsanam pashyaadya sacharaacharam; mam dehe gudaakesha yachchaanyad-drishtumich-chchasi

11.8 But surely you can not see Me with these human eyes of yours; therefore I vouchsafe to you the divine eye. With this you behold My divine power of yoga.

11.8 na tu maam shakyashe drashtumnenaiva svachakhshushaa; divyam dadaami te chakhshuh pashya me yogamaishvram

11.9 Sanjay said
My Lord ! having spoken thus, Shri Krishna, the supreme master of yoga, forthwith revealed to Arjuna His supremly glorious divine Form.

11.9 Sanjay uvaach
aivamuktva tato raajanmahaayogeshvaro harih; darshyaamaas parthaaye parmam roopamaishvram

11.10 Arjuna saw the supreme Deity possessing many mouths and eyes, presenting many a wonderful sites, decked with many divine ornaments, wielding many uplifted divine weapons, (cont.)

11.10 anekvaktranainamanekadbhutdarshanam; anekdivyaabharnam divyaanekodyataayudham
11.11 wearing garlands and clothes, besmeared all over with divine sandal pastes, full of all wonders, infinite and having faces on all sides.

11.11 divya maalyaambardharam divyagandhaanulepanam; sarvaashcharmyamayam devamanantam vishvaaaatomukham

11.12 If there be the effulgence of thousand suns bursting forth all at once in heavens, even that would hardly approach the splendor of mighty Lord.

11.12 divi suryasahastrasya bhavedyugpadutithaa; yadi bhaah sadrishee saa syaadbhaasastasya mahaatmanah

11.13 Concentrated at one place in the person of that supreme Deity, Arjuna then beheld the whole universe with its manyfold divisions.

11.13 tatraikastahm jagatkritsanam pravibhaktamanekdhaa; apashyad-devadevasya shreere paandavastadaa

11.14 Then, Arjuna, full of wonder and with the hair standing on end, reverentially bowed his head to the divine Lord, and with joined palms addressed Him thus;

11.14 tatah sa vismayaavishto hrishtaromaa dhananjaya; pranamya shirsaa devam kritaanjlirabhaashita

11.15 Arjuna said
Lord, I behold within Your body all gods and host of different beings, Brahma throned on his lotus-seat, Shiva and all Rishis and celestial serpents.

11.15 Arjuna uvaach
pashyaami devaamstav dev dehe; sarvaamstathaa bhootavisheshasanghaan; brahmaanameesham kamalaasanasthamrisheemashch sarvaanuragaamashcha divyaan

11.16 O Lord of universe, I see You endowed with numerous arms, bellies, mouths and eyes and having innumerable forms extended on all sides. I see neither Your beginning nor middle, nor even Your end, manifested as You are in the form of the universe.

11.16 anekabaahudaravaktranetram pashyami tvam sarvato-anantroopsm; naantam na madhyam na punastvaadim pashaami vishveshvara vishvaroopa

11.17 I see You endowed with diadems, clubs, and discuses, a mass of splendor flaming all around, having the brilliance of blazing fire and the sun, hard to gaze at and immeasurable on all sides.

11.17 kireetinam gadinam chakrinam cha tejoraashim sarvato deeptimantam; pashyami tvam dunireekhshyam samantaad-deeptaanalaarkadutimaprameyam

11.18 You are supreme indestructible worthy of being known; You are the ultimate refuge of this universe. You are, again, the protector of the ageless Dharma; I consider You to be the eternal imperishable Being.

11.18 tvamakhsharam paramam vedityavyam tvamasya vishvasya param nidhaanam; tvamavyayah shaashvatdharamagoptaa sanaatanastvama purusho mato me

11.19 I see You without beginning, middle or end, possessing unlimited prowess and endowed with numberless arms, having the moon and the sun for Your eyes, and blazing fire for Your mouth, and scorching this universe by your radiance.

11.19 anaadimadhaantamanantveeryam-anantabaahum shashisuryanetram; pashyaami tvaam deeptahutaashavaktrama svatejasaa vishvamidam tapantam

11.20 Yonder space between heaven and earth and all the quarters are entirely filled by You alone. Seeing this transcendent, dreadful Form of Yours, O Soul of the universe, all the three worlds feel greatly alarmed.

11.20 dyaavaaprithvyoridamantaram hi vyaaptam tvayaiken dishashcha sarvaah; drishtvaadbhutam roopamugram tavedam lokatryam pravyathitam mahaatmana

11.21 Yonder hosts of gods are entering You; some with palms joined out of fear are uttering Your names and glories. Multitude of Maharishis and Siddhas, saying ‘Let there be peace ‘, are extolling You by means of excellent hymns.

11.21 ami hi tvaam sursanghaa vishanti kechidbheetaah praanjalyo grinanti; svasteetyuktvaa maharshisiddhasanghaah stuvanti tvam stutibhih pushkalaabhih

11.22 The eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, the eight Vasus, the Sandhyas and Visdevas, the two ashwanikumaras and forty nine Maruts, as well as the manes and multitudes of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras and Siddhas, all these gaze upon You in amazement.

11.22 rudraadityaa vasavo ye cha saadhyaa vishve-ashvinau marutashchoshmapashch
gandharvayakhshaasursidhsangaa; veekhshante tvaam vismataashchaiva sarve

11.23 Lord, seeing this stupendous and dreadful Form of Yours possessing numerous mouths and eyes, many arms, thighs and feet, many bellies and many teeth, the worlds are terror-stuck; so am I.

11.23 mahaabaaho bahubaahoorupaadam bahoodaram bahudanshtraakaraalam; drishtvaa lokaah pravyathitaasthaaham

11.24 Lord, seeing Your Form reaching the heavens, effulgent multicolored, having its mouth wide open and possessing large flaming eyes, I, with my inmost self frightened, have lost self control and find no peace.

11.24 nabhahsprisham deeptamanekvarnam vyat-taananam deeptivishaalnetram; drishtvaa hi tvaam pravyathitantaraatmaa dhritim na vindaami shamam cha vishno

11.25 Seeing Your faces frightful on account of their teeth, and flaring like the fire at the time of universal destruction, I am bewildered and find no happiness; therefore, be kind to me, O Lord of celestials and Resting-place of the universe.

11.25 dranshtaakaraalaani cha te mukhaani drishtaiva kaalaanalasannibhaani; disho na jane na labhe cha sharma praseed devesh jagannivaasa

11.26 All those sons of Dhritrashtra with hosts of kings are entering You. Bhishma, Drona and yonder Karna, with principal warriors on our sides as well,

11.26 ami cha tvam dhritraashtrasya putraah sarve sahaaivaavnipaalsangaih; bheeshmo dronah sootaputrastathaasau sahaasmadeeyairapi yodhmukhyaih

11.27 are rushing headlong into Your fearful mouths looking all the more terrible on account of their teeth; some are seen stuck up in the gaps between your teeth with their heads crushed.

11.27 vaktraaani te tvarmaalaa vishanti dranshtaakaraalaani bhayaanakaani; kechidvilagnaa dashaantareshu
sandrishyante choornitairuttmangai

11.28 As the myriad streams of rivers rush towards the sea alone, so do these warriors of mortal world enter Your flaming mouths.

11.28 yathaa nadeenaam bahvo-ambuvegaah samudraamevaabhimukhaa dravanti; tathaa tavaami naralokaveeraa vishanti vaktraanyabhivijvalanti

11.29 As moths rush with great speed into the blazing fire for extinction out of their folly, even so all these people are with great rapidity entering Your mouths to meet their doom.

11.29 yathaa pradeeptam jvalnam patangaa vishanti naashaaye samridhvegaah; tathaiva naashaaye vishanti lokaa-stvaapi vaktraani samridhvegaah

11.30 Swallowing through Your blazing mouths, You are licking all those people on all sides. Lord, Your terrible splendors are burning the entire universe, filling it with radiance.

11.30 lelihyase grasamaanah samantaal-lokaaansmagaraanvadnairjvaladbhih; tejobhiraapurya jagatsamagram bhaasastvogaraah pratpanti vishno

11.31 Tell me who You are with a form so terrible ? My obeisance to You, O best of gods; be kind to me, I wish to know You, the Primal Being, in particular; for I know not Your purpose.

11.31 aakhyaahi me ko bhavaanugraroopo namo-astu te devavaar praseeda; vigyaatumich-chchaami bhavantamaadyam na hi prajaanaami tava pravrittam

11.32 Shree Bhagwan said
I am inflamed ‘ Kala’ (the eternal Time-spirit), the destroyer of the worlds. I am out to exterminate these people. Even without you all those warriors arrayed in the enemy’s camp must die.

11.32 Shree Bhagwanovaach kaalo-asmi lok-khshyakritpravriddho; lokaansamaahurtamih pravrittah
rite-api vaam na bhavishyanti sarve ye-avsthitaah pratyaneekeshu yodhaah

11.33 Therefore you do arise and win glory; conquering foes, enjoy the effluent kingdom. These warriors stand already slain by Me; be you only an instrument, Arjuna

11.33 tasmaat-tvamutishth yasho labhasvaa jitvaa shatroonbhukhshva raajyamsmriddham; mayaivaite nihitaa poorvamev nimitmaataram bhava savyasaachin

11.34 You do kill Drona, Bhishma, Jaydratha and Karna and even other brave warriors; who stand already killed by Me; fear not.You will surely conquer the enemies in this war; therefore, fight.

11.34 dronam cha bheeshmam cha jayadratham cha karanam tathaanyaapi yodhveeraan; mayaaa hataamstvam jahi maa vyatishthaa yudhasvaa jetaasi rane saptanaan

11.36 Arjuna uvaach
sthaane hrishikesha tava prakeertyaa jagatprahshyatyanurjyte cha; rakhshaansi bheetaani disho dravanti
sarve namasyanti cha siddhasangaah

11.35 Sanjay said
Hearing these words of Bhagwan Keshva, Arjuna tremblingly bowed to Him with joined palms, and bowing again in extreme terror spoke to Shri Krishna in faltering accent.

11.35 Sanjay uvaach
aitach-chchutvaa vachanam keshavasya kritaanjlirvepamaanah kiritee; namaskritvaa bhooya evaah krishnam sagadgadam bheetbheetah pranamya

11.36 Arjuna said
Lord, well it is, the universe exults and is filled with love by chanting Your names, virtues and glory; terrified Rakshasas are fleeing in all directions, and all the hosts of Siddhas are bowing to You.

11.36 Arjuna uvaach
Sthane hrsikesa tava prakirtya jagat prahrsyaty anurajyate ca; raksamsi bhitani diso dravanti sarve namasyanti ca siddha-sanghah

11.37 O Great soul, why should they not bow to you, who are the progenitors of Brahma himself and the greatest of the great ? O infinite Lord of celestials, abode of the universe, You are that which is existent ( Sat ) that which is not existing ( Asat ) and also that which is beyond both, viz., the indestructible Brahma.

11.37 kasmaach-chate na nameranmahaatman greeyase brahmano-apyadikartare; anant devesh jagannivaasa tvamakhsharam sadsat-tat-param yat

11.38 You are the Primal Deity, the most ancient person; You are the ultimate resort of this universe. You are both the knower and the knowable, and the highest abode. It is You who pervade the universe, assuming endless forms.

11.38 tvamaadidevah purushah puraan-stvamasya vishvasya param nidhaanam; vattaasi vedyam cha paaram cha dhaama tvyaa tatam vishvamanantroopa

11.39 You are Vayu (the god of Air), Yama (the god of death), Agni (the god of fire), Varuna (god of water), the moon-god, Brahma (the lord of creation), nay, the father of Brahma himself. Hail, hail to You a thousand times; salutions , repeated salutions to You once again.

11.39 vaayuryamo-agnivarunah shashaankah prajaapatistvam prapitaamahashcha; namo namaste-astu sahastrakritvah punashcha bhooyo-api namo namaste

11.40 O Lord of infinite prowess, my salutions to You from front and from behind. O Soul of all, my obeisance to You from all sides indeed. You, who possess limitless might, pervade all; therefore , You are all.

11.40 namah purastaadathaa prishthataste namo-astu te sarvatah eva sarvaa; anantveeryamativikramastvam sarvam samaapanoshi tato-asi sarvah

11.41 The way in which I have importunately called out, either through intimacy or even through want of thought, ” Ho Krishna ! Ho Yadva ! Ho Comrade ! “and so on, suspecting not this greatness of yours,

11.41 sakheti matvaa prasabham yaduktam he krishna he yaadava he sakheti; ajaanataa mahimaanam tvedam mayaa pramaadaat pranyen vaapi

11.42 and thinking you only to be fiend, and the way in which You have been sighted by me in jest, O sinless one, while at play, reposing, sitting or at meals either alone or in the presence of others– for all that I crave forgiveness from You, who are infinite.

11.42 yach-chaavahaasaarthamaskrito-asi vihaarshaiyaasanbhojaneshu; eko-athvaapyachyut tatsamakhsham tatkhshaamaye tvaamahamaprameyam

11.43 You are the father, nay, the greatest teacher of this moving and unmoving creation, and worthy of adoration. O Lord of incomparable might, in all three worlds there is none else equal to You; how, then, any better ?

11.43 pitaasi lokasya charaacharasya tvamasya poojyashcha gururgareeyaan; na tvatsamo-astyabhyadhikah kuto-anyo loktraye-apyapratimaprabhaava

11.44 Therefore, Lord, prostrating my body at Your feet and bowing low I seek to propitiate You, the ruler of all and worthy of all praise. It behoves You to bear with me even as a father bears with his son, a friend with his friend and a husband with his beloved spouse.

11.44 tasmaatpranamyaranidhaaye kaayam prasaadye tvamahameeshameedyam; pitev putrasya sakhev sakhyuh priyeh priyaayaa-arahasi dev sodum

11.45 Having seen your wondrous form, which was never seen before, I feel transported with joy; at the same time my mind is tormented by fear. Pray reveal to me that divine form; the form of Vishnu with four arms; O Lord of celestials, abode of the universe, be gracious.

11.45 adrishtpoorvam hrishto-asmi drishtavaa bhayen cha pravathitam mano me; tadev me darshayaa devaroopam praseed devesh jagannivaasa

11.46 I wish to see You adorned in the same way with a diadem on the head, and holding a mace and a discus in two of Your hands. O Lord with a thousand arms, O Universal Being, appear again in the same four-armed Form.

11.46 kireetanam gadinam chakrahast-mich-chchaami tvaam drashtumaham tathaiva; tenaiva roopen chaturbhujena sahastrabaaho bhava vishvamoorte

11.47 Shree Bhagwan said
Arjuna, pleased with you I have shown you, through My own power of yoga, this supreme, effulgent, primal and Infinite Cosmic Body, which was never seen before by anyone else than you.

11.47 Shree Bhagwanovaach mayaa prasannen tvaarjunedam; roopam param darshitamaatmayogaat
tejomayam vishvamanantamaadyam yanme tvadanyen na drishpoorvam

11.48 Arjuna, in this mortal world I can not be seen in this Form by anyone else than you, either through study of Vedas or of rituals, or again through gifts (charity ), actions or austere penance.

11.48 na vedyagyaadhyayanairna danair-na cha kriyabhirna tapobhirugraih; aivamroopah shakya aham nriloke drashtum tvadanyen kurupraveera

11.49 Seeing such a dreadful Form of Mine as this, be not perturbed or perplexed; with a fearless and complacent, behold once again the same four-armed Form of Mine (bearing the conch, discus, mace and lotus).

11.49 maa te vyathaa maa cha vimoodabhaavo drishtavaa roopam ghorameedridamamedam; vyapetbheeh preetamanaah punastvam tadev me roopam idam prapashya

11.50 Sanjay said
Having spoken thus to Arjuna, Bhagwan Vasudeva again showed to him in the same way His own four-armed Form; and then , assuming a gentle form, the high-souled Shree Krishna consoled the frightened Arjuna.

11.50 Sanjay uvaach – ityarjunam vasudevastathoktvaa svakam roopam darshyaamaas bhooyah; aashvaasyaamaas cha bheetamenam bhootva punah saumyavapurmahaatmaa

11.51 Arjuna said
Krishna, seeing this gentle human form of Yours I have regained my composure and am myself again.

11.51 Arjuna uvaach
drishtvedam manusham roopam tav saumyam janaardana; idaaneemasmi sanvritah sachetah prakritam gataah

11.52 Shree Bhagwan said
This form of Mine ( with four arms ) which you have just seen is exceedingly difficult to perceive. Even gods are always eager to behold this form

11.52 Shree Bhagwanovaach
sudurdarshamidam roopam drishtvaanasi yanmam; devaa apyasya roopasya nityam darshankaankhshinah

11.53 Neither by study of Vedas nor by penance, nor again by charity , nor even by rituals can I be seen in this form ( with four arms ) as you have seen Me.

11.53 naaham vedairna tapasaa na danena na chejyaya; shakya evamvidho drashtum drishtvaanasi maam yathaa

11.54 Through single minded devotion, however, I can be seen in this form ( with four arms ), nay, known in essence and even entered into , O valiant Arjuna.

11.54 bhaktyaa tvananyayaa shakya ahamevamvidho-arjuna; gyaatum drashtum cha tatven praveshtum cha parantapa

11.55 Arjuna, he who performs all his duties for My sake, depends on Me, is devoted to Me; has no attachment, and free from malice towards all beings, reaches Me.

11.55 matkarmakrinmatparamo madbhaktah sangvarjitah; nirvairah sarvabhooteshu yah sa mameti paandava

—xxx—

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