Chapter 11 · 55 verses

Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga: The Cosmic Form

अध्याय 11 — विश्वरूपदर्शनयोग

Arjuna asks to see Krishna’s universal form and is shown the whole cosmos within him — awe-inspiring and terrifying — before Krishna returns to his gentle form.

अर्जुन श्रीकृष्ण का विराट रूप देखने की प्रार्थना करते हैं और उनमें पूरा ब्रह्मांड देखते हैं — अद्भुत और भयावह — फिर श्रीकृष्ण अपने सौम्य रूप में लौट आते हैं।

Verse 11.1मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम् …Arjuna tells Krishna that the deep spiritual teaching he shared out of kindness has cleared away Arjuna's confusion.
Verse 11.2भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया …Arjuna says he has heard from Krishna in detail how all beings come into existence and dissolve, and also about Krishna's own unending greatness.
Verse 11.3एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर …Arjuna accepts that Krishna is exactly as he has described himself, yet he longs to actually see Krishna's divine, majestic form with his own eyes.
Verse 11.4मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो …Arjuna humbly asks: if Krishna thinks Arjuna is able to see it, then may the master of yoga reveal his imperishable self to him.
Verse 11.5पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः …Krishna answers: look, Arjuna, at my hundreds and thousands of divine forms, of many kinds, colors and shapes.
Verse 11.6पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्िवनौ मरुतस्तथा …Krishna tells Arjuna to see within him all the gods of the heavens and many wonders that no one has ever seen before.
Verse 11.7इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम् …Krishna says that right here, gathered in one place within his body, Arjuna can see the entire universe, moving and still, and anything else he wishes to see.
Verse 11.8न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा …Krishna explains that Arjuna cannot see this form with ordinary eyes, so he gives him divine sight to behold his divine power.
Verse 11.9एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः …Sanjaya tells King Dhritarashtra that, having said this, Krishna, the great lord of yoga, revealed his supreme divine form to Arjuna.
Verse 11.10अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम् …Sanjaya describes the form: it had countless mouths and eyes, showed countless wonders, wore many divine ornaments and held many raised divine weapons.
Verse 11.11दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् …The form wore heavenly garlands and clothes, was anointed with divine fragrances, was full of every wonder, endless, and faced in all directions.
Verse 11.12दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता …Sanjaya says that if a thousand suns rose in the sky at once, their brilliance might come close to the radiance of that great being.
Verse 11.13तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा …There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna saw the whole universe, with all its many divisions, gathered together in one place.
Verse 11.14ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः …Filled with amazement, his hair standing on end, Arjuna bowed his head to the Lord, joined his palms, and began to speak.
Verse 11.15पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे …Arjuna says he sees in Krishna's body all the gods and every kind of being, Brahma seated on the lotus, Shiva, all the sages and the divine serpents.
Verse 11.16अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं …Arjuna sees Krishna everywhere with endless arms, bellies, faces and eyes, and finds no end, no middle and no beginning to him, the Lord of the universe.
Verse 11.17किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च …Arjuna sees Krishna with crown, mace and discus, a mass of light shining on all sides, so bright like blazing fire and sun that he is hard to look at and beyond measure.
Verse 11.18त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं …Arjuna declares that Krishna is the imperishable supreme truth worth knowing, the final resting place of the universe, the eternal protector of dharma and the timeless being.
Verse 11.19अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य …Arjuna sees Krishna without beginning, middle or end, of endless power and arms, with the sun and moon as eyes, his mouth a blazing fire, heating the whole world with his radiance.
Verse 11.20द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि …Arjuna says the space between heaven and earth and all directions are filled by Krishna alone, and seeing this wondrous, terrifying form, all three worlds tremble.
Verse 11.21अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घाः विशन्ति …Arjuna sees hosts of gods entering Krishna; some, afraid, praise him with folded hands, while great sages and perfected beings say 'may all be well' and sing his glory.
Verse 11.22रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या …All the classes of gods, celestial musicians, nature spirits, demons and perfected beings are gazing at Krishna in astonishment.
Verse 11.23रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं …Arjuna says that seeing this vast form with many mouths, eyes, arms, thighs and feet, and many fearsome teeth, the worlds are shaken, and so is he.
Verse 11.24नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं …Seeing Krishna touching the sky, blazing in many colors, mouths wide open and huge fiery eyes, Arjuna's heart trembles and he can find neither courage nor peace.
Verse 11.25दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि …Seeing Krishna's mouths with terrible teeth, blazing like the fire at the end of time, Arjuna loses all sense of direction and comfort, and begs the Lord to be gracious.
Verse 11.26अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः …Arjuna sees all the sons of Dhritarashtra, along with many kings, Bhishma, Drona and Karna, and even the chief warriors on his own side.
Verse 11.27वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति …Arjuna sees these warriors rushing into Krishna's dreadful mouths with fearsome teeth, some caught between the teeth with their heads crushed.
Verse 11.28यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः …Just as many river currents rush toward the ocean, these heroes of the world are entering Krishna's flaming mouths.
Verse 11.29यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा …As moths fly at full speed into a blazing fire to their destruction, so all these beings rush into Krishna's mouths to their end.
Verse 11.30लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ता …Arjuna sees Krishna swallowing all worlds on every side with flaming mouths, licking his lips, while his fierce rays fill and scorch the whole universe.
Verse 11.31आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो …Arjuna bows and pleads: tell me who you are in this fierce form; I want to know you, the original one, for I do not understand what you are doing.
Verse 11.32कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो …Krishna answers: I am Time, the mighty destroyer of worlds, here to wipe them out. Even without you, none of the warriors standing in the opposing armies will survive.
Verse 11.33तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व …So rise, Arjuna, win glory, defeat your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. They have already been slain by Krishna; Arjuna is only to be the instrument.
Verse 11.34द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च …Krishna tells Arjuna to strike down Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other heroes, already slain by him; do not be distressed, fight, and you will win.
Verse 11.35एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य …Sanjaya says that on hearing Krishna's words, Arjuna, trembling, with folded hands, bowed again and spoke to Krishna in a choked voice, deeply afraid.
Verse 11.36स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या …Arjuna says it is fitting that the world rejoices and delights in praising Krishna, that evil forces flee in fear, and all perfected beings bow to him.
Verse 11.37कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन् …Why would they not bow to Krishna, greater even than Brahma the creator, the first cause? He is infinite, Lord of gods, home of the universe, the imperishable beyond what exists and what does not.
Verse 11.38त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराण …Arjuna praises Krishna as the first God, the ancient being, the final refuge of the universe, the knower and what is to be known, the highest home, pervading all in endless forms.
Verse 11.39वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः …Arjuna says Krishna is the wind, death, fire, water, moon, the creator and the creator's father. He bows to him a thousand times, and again and again.
Verse 11.40नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते …Arjuna bows to Krishna in front, behind and on every side, for he is everything; of infinite strength and boundless power, he pervades all and so he is all.
Verse 11.41सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं …Arjuna admits that, not knowing Krishna's greatness, he rashly called him 'Krishna', 'Yadava', 'friend', out of carelessness or simple affection.
Verse 11.42यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि …And for any disrespect shown in jest while playing, resting, sitting or eating, alone or in front of others, Arjuna begs forgiveness from the immeasurable Lord.
Verse 11.43पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य …Arjuna says Krishna is the father of all that moves and does not move, worthy of worship and the greatest teacher; no one in the three worlds equals him, so how could anyone surpass him?
Verse 11.44तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं …So Arjuna bows down fully and asks for grace: just as a father forgives his son, a friend his friend, and a lover the beloved, please bear with me.
Verse 11.45अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा …Arjuna says he is thrilled to have seen what no one has seen before, yet his mind is shaken with fear; he asks Krishna to show his familiar form again and be gracious.
Verse 11.46किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्त …Arjuna wishes to see Krishna as before, with crown, mace and discus in hand, and asks the thousand-armed universal one to take that four-armed form.
Verse 11.47मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं …Krishna says that out of his grace and by his own power he showed Arjuna this supreme form, radiant, universal, infinite and original, which no one but Arjuna has seen before.
Verse 11.48न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै …Krishna says that neither by study of the Vedas, rituals, charity, ceremonies nor harsh austerities can anyone in this world see him in this form, except Arjuna.
Verse 11.49मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो …Krishna tells Arjuna not to be afraid or confused at seeing this terrifying form; free of fear and with a happy heart, he should now see Krishna's familiar form again.
Verse 11.50इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा …Sanjaya says Krishna, having spoken, showed his own form again, and taking on his gentle form, the great one comforted the frightened Arjuna.
Verse 11.51दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तवसौम्यं जनार्दन …Arjuna says that seeing Krishna's gentle human form, he is now calm again and has returned to his normal self.
Verse 11.52सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम …Krishna says the form Arjuna has seen is extremely hard to see; even the gods always long to see it.
Verse 11.53नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया …Krishna repeats that neither by the Vedas, austerity, charity nor sacrifice can he be seen in the way Arjuna has seen him.
Verse 11.54भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्यमहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन …Krishna says that only through single-minded devotion can he be truly known, seen in this way, and entered into.
Verse 11.55मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः …Krishna says whoever works for him, holds him as the highest goal, is devoted to him, free of attachment, and has no hatred toward any being, comes to him.