Chapter 11 · Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God

11.1

अर्जुन उवाच | मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम् | यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम ||११-१||

arjuna uvāca . madanugrahāya paramaṃ guhyamadhyātmasaṃjñitam . yattvayoktaṃ vacastena moho.ayaṃ vigato mama ||11-1||

Arjuna said, The supreme secret you've shared with me about the Self has cleared up all my confusion, and I'm grateful you revealed this profound truth to benefit me.

11.2

भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया | त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ||११-२||

bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṃ śrutau vistaraśo mayā . tvattaḥ kamalapatrākṣa māhātmyamapi cāvyayam ||11-2||

I've heard from you, Krishna, about the entire cycle of creation and destruction, and also about your boundless greatness, in great detail, lotus-eyed one.

11.3

एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर | द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ||११-३||

evametadyathāttha tvamātmānaṃ parameśvara . draṣṭumicchāmi te rūpamaiśvaraṃ puruṣottama ||11-3||

I believe everything you've told me, Krishna, and now I'm eager to see your divine form, the supreme manifestation of your power and glory.

11.4

मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो | योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ||११-४||

manyase yadi tacchakyaṃ mayā draṣṭumiti prabho . yogeśvara tato me tvaṃ darśayātmānamavyayam ||11-4||

If you think I'm capable of seeing this, Krishna, then show me your eternal form, since you're the master of all yoga.

11.5

श्रीभगवानुवाच | पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः | नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च ||११-५||

śrībhagavānuvāca . paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi śataśo.atha sahasraśaḥ . nānāvidhāni divyāni nānāvarṇākṛtīni ca ||11-5||

Krishna says, Arjuna, look at the countless forms I'm showing you - hundreds, thousands of them, each one unique and divine, with different colors and shapes.

11.6

पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा | बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत ||११-६||

paśyādityānvasūnrudrānaśvinau marutastathā . bahūnyadṛṣṭapūrvāṇi paśyāścaryāṇi bhārata ||11-6||

Behold the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, the two Asvins, and the Maruts, as well as many other astonishing sights you've never seen before, Arjuna.

11.7

इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम् | मम देहे गुडाकेश यच्चान्यद् द्रष्टुमिच्छसि ||११-७||

ihaikasthaṃ jagatkṛtsnaṃ paśyādya sacarācaram . mama dehe guḍākeśa yaccānyad draṣṭumicchasi ||11-7||

Now, Arjuna, you can see the entire universe, everything that exists, both living and non-living, all present in my body, and anything else you'd like to see.

11.8

न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा | दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ||११-८||

na tu māṃ śakyase draṣṭumanenaiva svacakṣuṣā . divyaṃ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya me yogamaiśvaram ||11-8||

You can't see me with your physical eyes, so I'm giving you a special gift - a divine vision that will allow you to see my divine power and majesty. With this gift, you'll be able to behold my spiritual presence.

11.9

सञ्जय उवाच | एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः | दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम् ||११-९||

sañjaya uvāca . evamuktvā tato rājanmahāyogeśvaro hariḥ . darśayāmāsa pārthāya paramaṃ rūpamaiśvaram ||11-9||

Sanjaya said that after speaking, the great Lord of Yoga, Krishna, revealed his supreme, divine form to Arjuna.

11.10

अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम् | अनेकदिव्याभरणं दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम् ||११-१०||

anekavaktranayanamanekādbhutadarśanam . anekadivyābharaṇaṃ divyānekodyatāyudham ||11-10||

Krishna's form was astonishing, with many mouths and eyes, and it was adorned with countless dazzling ornaments and uplifted divine weapons that shone with a fierce light.

11.11

दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् | सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवमनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम् ||११-११||

divyamālyāmbaradharaṃ divyagandhānulepanam . sarvāścaryamayaṃ devamanantaṃ viśvatomukham ||11-11||

Adorned with heavenly garlands and radiant attire, fragrant with divine scents, Krishna revealed Himself as a being of breathtaking wonder, infinite and all-encompassing, with faces in every direction.

11.12

दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता | यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः ||११-१२||

divi sūryasahasrasya bhavedyugapadutthitā . yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syādbhāsastasya mahātmanaḥ ||11-12||

If a thousand suns were to rise together in the sky, their combined radiance would still only be comparable to the brilliance of Krishna's majestic presence.

11.13

तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा | अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा ||११-१३||

tatraikasthaṃ jagatkṛtsnaṃ pravibhaktamanekadhā . apaśyaddevadevasya śarīre pāṇḍavastadā ||11-13||

In the body of the divine Krishna, Arjuna saw the entire universe unified, yet diversified into many distinct forms, all present at once.

11.14

ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः | प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ||११-१४||

tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo hṛṣṭaromā dhanañjayaḥ . praṇamya śirasā devaṃ kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata ||11-14||

Arjuna was filled with wonder, his hair standing on end, and he bowed his head to the ground, hands clasped together in reverence, as he spoke to Krishna.

11.15

अर्जुन उवाच | पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान् | ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थ- मृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान् ||११-१५||

arjuna uvāca . paśyāmi devāṃstava deva dehe sarvāṃstathā bhūtaviśeṣasaṅghān . brahmāṇamīśaṃ kamalāsanasthaṃ ṛṣīṃśca sarvānuragāṃśca divyān ||11-15||

Arjuna says, I see all the gods and various types of beings within you, as well as Brahma, the creator, seated on a lotus, and all the sages and divine serpents, a vast array of celestial beings. In your divine form, I see the entire universe, with all its wonders and diverse creatures. Your body contains everything, Lord, and I am in awe of this magnificent vision.

11.16

अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम् | नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप ||११-१६||

anekabāhūdaravaktranetraṃ paśyāmi tvāṃ sarvato.anantarūpam . nāntaṃ na madhyaṃ na punastavādiṃ paśyāmi viśveśvara viśvarūpa ||11-16||

I see you everywhere, with countless arms, faces, and eyes, your form stretching out in every direction, but I don't see a beginning, middle, or end to you, Lord of the universe, you who embody all of existence. Your form is infinite and all-encompassing, filling everything.

11.17

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च तेजोराशिं सर्वतो दीप्तिमन्तम् | पश्यामि त्वां दुर्निरीक्ष्यं समन्ताद् दीप्तानलार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम् ||११-१७||

kirīṭinaṃ gadinaṃ cakriṇaṃ ca tejorāśiṃ sarvato dīptimantam . paśyāmi tvāṃ durnirīkṣyaṃ samantād dīptānalārkadyutimaprameyam ||11-17||

I see you, Krishna, resplendent with a crown, a club, and a discus, shining intensely all around, your radiance so brilliant it's hard to gaze upon, like a fierce fire or the blazing sun, and utterly beyond measure.

11.18

त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् | त्वमव्ययः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे ||११-१८||

tvamakṣaraṃ paramaṃ veditavyaṃ tvamasya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam . tvamavyayaḥ śāśvatadharmagoptā sanātanastvaṃ puruṣo mato me ||11-18||

You are the unchanging reality, the supreme being who is to be understood, the ultimate source of everything in the universe. You are the eternal guardian of righteousness, unwavering and unshakeable, and I believe you are the original, everlasting person. You are the one who endures forever, the imperishable essence that sustains all of existence.

11.19

अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य- मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम् | पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रं स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् ||११-१९||

anādimadhyāntamanantavīryam anantabāhuṃ śaśisūryanetram . paśyāmi tvāṃ dīptahutāśavaktraṃ svatejasā viśvamidaṃ tapantam ||11-19||

I see you as boundless and endless, with infinite strength and countless arms, your eyes shining like the sun and moon, your face aglow with a fiery splendor that illuminates the entire universe with your own radiance.

11.20

द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः | दृष्ट्वाद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन् ||११-२०||

dyāvāpṛthivyoridamantaraṃ hi vyāptaṃ tvayaikena diśaśca sarvāḥ . dṛṣṭvādbhutaṃ rūpamugraṃ tavedaṃ lokatrayaṃ pravyathitaṃ mahātman ||11-20||

The entire space between the earth and the sky, and all directions, are filled by you alone. Seeing your astonishing and intimidating form, the three worlds are shaken with fear, great Krishna. Your presence pervades everything, leaving all of existence trembling in awe.

11.21

अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति | स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ||११-२१||

amī hi tvāṃ surasaṅghā viśanti kecidbhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti . svastītyuktvā maharṣisiddhasaṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṃ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ ||11-21||

Hosts of divine beings are entering into you, Krishna, with some praising you in awe, their hands clasped together in reverence, while great sages and perfected beings offer you heartfelt praise, wishing you well and singing your glory with beautiful hymns.

11.22

रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या विश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च | गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घा वीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे ||११-२२||

rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā viśve.aśvinau marutaścoṣmapāśca . gandharvayakṣāsurasiddhasaṅghā vīkṣante tvāṃ vismitāścaiva sarve ||11-22||

The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, and other divine beings are all gazing at you in wonder, along with the Maruts, the celestial musicians, the Yakshas, demons, and perfected sages, all of whom are utterly amazed by your presence. The entire universe is watching you with bated breath. Every being, from the gods to the demons, is filled with awe and astonishment.

11.23

रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम् | बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालं दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाहम् ||११-२३||

rūpaṃ mahatte bahuvaktranetraṃ mahābāho bahubāhūrupādam . bahūdaraṃ bahudaṃṣṭrākarālaṃ dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitāstathāham ||11-23||

Seeing your immense form with countless mouths, eyes, arms, and legs, and its many terrifying teeth, I'm overwhelmed with fear, just like the rest of the world, Krishna. Your form is so awe-inspiring that it's unsettling to behold, with its numerous stomachs and fearsome features. I, along with all the worlds, am deeply disturbed by this vision.

11.24

नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् | दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो ||११-२४||

nabhaḥspṛśaṃ dīptamanekavarṇaṃ vyāttānanaṃ dīptaviśālanetram . dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṃ pravyathitāntarātmā dhṛtiṃ na vindāmi śamaṃ ca viṣṇo ||11-24||

As I see you, towering high, radiant with a kaleidoscope of colors, your wide-open mouths and blazing eyes are a terrifying sight, and I'm overwhelmed with fear, losing all sense of courage and inner peace, Vishnu.

11.25

दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि | दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ||११-२५||

daṃṣṭrākarālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvaiva kālānalasannibhāni . diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa ||11-25||

Arjuna, seeing your mouths with terrifying teeth, blazing like fires that consume the universe, he's completely disoriented and can't find any peace. Krishna, Lord of the universe, have mercy on him.

11.26

अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः | भीष्मो द्रोणः सूतपुत्रस्तथासौ सहास्मदीयैरपि योधमुख्यैः ||११-२६||

amī ca tvāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ sarve sahaivāvanipālasaṅghaiḥ . bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sūtaputrastathāsau sahāsmadīyairapi yodhamukhyaiḥ ||11-26||

All the sons of Dhritarashtra, along with the gathered kings and their armies, Bhishma, Drona, and Karna, as well as the top warriors from our own side, are all standing there.

11.27

वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि | केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु सन्दृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः ||११-२७||

vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti daṃṣṭrākarālāni bhayānakāni . kecidvilagnā daśanāntareṣu sandṛśyante cūrṇitairuttamāṅgaiḥ ||11-27||

They're rushing into your mouths, which are filled with huge, frightening teeth. Some of them get stuck between your teeth, their bodies crushed to a pulp, their heads completely smashed.

11.28

यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः समुद्रमेवाभिमुखा द्रवन्ति | तथा तवामी नरलोकवीरा विशन्ति वक्त्राण्यभिविज्वलन्ति ||११-२८||

yathā nadīnāṃ bahavo.ambuvegāḥ samudramevābhimukhā dravanti . tathā tavāmī naralokavīrā viśanti vaktrāṇyabhivijvalanti ||11-28||

Just as numerous rivers rush towards the ocean with powerful currents, these brave warriors of the human world are rushing into your blazing mouths.

11.29

यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः | तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोकास्- तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः ||११-२९||

yathā pradīptaṃ jvalanaṃ pataṅgā viśanti nāśāya samṛddhavegāḥ . tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokāsa- tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddhavegāḥ ||11-29||

Just as moths swiftly fly into a fiery flame to meet their end, all these creatures are rushing headlong into your mouths to meet their own destruction, driven by their intense momentum.

11.30

लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ताल्- लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः | तेजोभिरापूर्य जगत्समग्रं भासस्तवोग्राः प्रतपन्ति विष्णो ||११-३०||

lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāl- lokānsamagrānvadanairjvaladbhiḥ . tejobhirāpūrya jagatsamagraṃ bhāsastavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo ||11-30||

You're consuming all the worlds around you with your blazing mouths, and your intense energy is filling the entire universe, burning everything with your powerful rays, Vishnu. Your brilliant light is overwhelming, flooding every corner of creation.

11.31

आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद | विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम् ||११-३१||

ākhyāhi me ko bhavānugrarūpo namo.astu te devavara prasīda . vijñātumicchāmi bhavantamādyaṃ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim ||11-31||

Tell me, what is your true nature, behind this fierce appearance? I offer my respects to you, supreme God, and ask for your mercy. I want to understand who you are, the source of everything, and your purpose, which is beyond my comprehension.

11.32

श्रीभगवानुवाच | कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः | ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः ||११-३२||

śrībhagavānuvāca . kālo.asmi lokakṣayakṛtpravṛddho lokānsamāhartumiha pravṛttaḥ . ṛte.api tvāṃ na bhaviṣyanti sarve ye.avasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ ||11-32||

I am time itself, grown strong to destroy the world, and I have begun the process of annihilating it. With or without your involvement, Arjuna, all the warriors standing against you will not survive, for I am the one who will bring about their end.

11.33

तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् | मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ||११-३३||

tasmāttvamuttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṃ samṛddham . mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvameva nimittamātraṃ bhava savyasācin ||11-33||

Now's the time to rise up and claim your glory, Arjuna. Defeat your enemies and revel in a prosperous kingdom, for in truth, I, Krishna, have already defeated them - you're simply the means to see it through.

11.34

द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् | मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ||११-३४||

droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca karṇaṃ tathānyānapi yodhavīrān . mayā hatāṃstvaṃ jahi mavyathiṣṭhā yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān ||11-34||

Krishna tells Arjuna that Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, and Karna, along with other courageous warriors, have already been defeated by him, so Arjuna should go ahead and strike them down without hesitation or fear, and he will emerge victorious over his enemies in battle.

11.35

सञ्जय उवाच | एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी | नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य ||११-३५||

sañjaya uvāca . etacchrutvā vacanaṃ keśavasya kṛtāñjalirvepamānaḥ kirīṭī . namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṃ sagadgadaṃ bhītabhītaḥ praṇamya ||11-35||

Having heard Krishna's words, Arjuna was deeply shaken, his body trembling as he bowed down with hands clasped together, and with a choked voice, he spoke to Krishna again, overcome with a mix of fear and awe.

11.36

अर्जुन उवाच | स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या जगत्प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च | रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्ति सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः ||११-३६||

arjuna uvāca . sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā jagatprahṛṣyatyanurajyate ca . rakṣāṃsi bhītāni diśo dravanti sarve namasyanti ca siddhasaṅghāḥ ||11-36||

Arjuna says, It's only fitting, Krishna, that the world is thrilled and overjoyed by your glory, while demons flee in terror and all the assembled sages bow down in reverence, acknowledging your greatness. The entire universe is filled with praise for you, and all directions are filled with those who offer you homage.

11.37

कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन् गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे | अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत् ||११-३७||

kasmācca te na nameranmahātman garīyase brahmaṇo.apyādikartre . ananta deveśa jagannivāsa tvamakṣaraṃ sadasattatparaṃ yat ||11-37||

Why wouldn't they bow to you, great one, when you're the ultimate source, even beyond the creator Brahma, the infinite Lord of the universe, and the home of all existence, encompassing everything that is, isn't, and transcends both. You're the supreme reality that's beyond all limits.

11.38

त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराणस्- त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् | वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप ||११-३८||

tvamādidevaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇasa- tvamasya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam . vettāsi vedyaṃ ca paraṃ ca dhāma tvayā tataṃ viśvamanantarūpa ||11-38||

You are the original divine being, the ancient source of all life, and the ultimate sanctuary of the universe. You are the one who knows, the one who is to be known, and the highest reality that exists. Through you, everything in the universe is connected and filled, and your presence takes on countless forms.

11.39

वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च | नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वः पुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते ||११-३९||

vāyuryamo.agnirvaruṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ prajāpatistvaṃ prapitāmahaśca . namo namaste.astu sahasrakṛtvaḥ punaśca bhūyo.api namo namaste ||11-39||

You are the air we breathe, the force of death, the fiery spark, the ocean's depths, the gentle light of the moon, the creator of all, and the great-grandfather of our lineage. I offer my respects to you, a thousand times over, and still again, my reverence and homage to you, endlessly repeated. You embody all these elements and more, and I honor you with deepest devotion.

11.40

नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व | अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ||११-४०||

namaḥ purastādatha pṛṣṭhataste namo.astu te sarvata eva sarva . anantavīryāmitavikramastvaṃ sarvaṃ samāpnoṣi tato.asi sarvaḥ ||11-40||

I bow to you from every direction, for you are infinite in strength and power, and your presence fills all of existence, making you the all-encompassing reality. You uphold everything and are the ultimate essence of all that is. My salutations to you, who are everywhere and in all things.

11.41

सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति | अजानता महिमानं तवेदं मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि ||११-४१||

sakheti matvā prasabhaṃ yaduktaṃ he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakheti . ajānatā mahimānaṃ tavedaṃ mayā pramādātpraṇayena vāpi ||11-41||

I've spoken to you casually, addressing you as Krishna, Yadava, and friend, not realizing your true greatness, and whatever I've said out of thoughtlessness or affection, please know it wasn't meant to be disrespectful.

11.42

यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु | एकोऽथवाप्यच्युत तत्समक्षं तत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम् ||११-४२||

yaccāvahāsārthamasatkṛto.asi vihāraśayyāsanabhojaneṣu . eko.athavāpyacyuta tatsamakṣaṃ tatkṣāmaye tvāmahamaprameyam ||11-42||

I apologize for any disrespect I may have shown you, Krishna, whether we were joking around, relaxing, or just hanging out, whether it was just the two of us or in a group, and I ask you to pardon me, you who are beyond all measure.

11.43

पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान् | न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव ||११-४३||

pitāsi lokasya carācarasya tvamasya pūjyaśca gururgarīyān . na tvatsamo.astyabhyadhikaḥ kuto.anyo lokatraye.apyapratimaprabhāva ||11-43||

You are the father of all creation, everything that moves and everything that doesn't. You are the one this world adores and the greatest teacher, with no one equal to you. How could anyone be greater than you in all the universe, you who have unparalleled power and stand supreme?

11.44

तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम् | पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम् ||११-४४||

tasmātpraṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṃ prasādaye tvāmahamīśamīḍyam . piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum ||11-44||

I bow down to you, Lord, with my whole being, seeking your mercy and forgiveness. Just as a father forgives his child, a friend forgives a friend, or a lover forgives their beloved, I ask that you forgive me, for you are the one I can trust to understand and bear with me.

11.45

अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे | तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपं प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ||११-४५||

adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ hṛṣito.asmi dṛṣṭvā bhayena ca pravyathitaṃ mano me . tadeva me darśaya deva rūpaṃ prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa ||11-45||

I’m thrilled to have witnessed something never seen before, yet my mind trembles with fear. Please reveal to me that same divine form again, O Lord of the universe, and grant me your mercy.

11.46

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्तं इच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव | तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेन सहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते ||११-४६||

kirīṭinaṃ gadinaṃ cakrahastaṃ icchāmi tvāṃ draṣṭumahaṃ tathaiva . tenaiva rūpeṇa caturbhujena sahasrabāho bhava viśvamūrte ||11-46||

I want to see you in your familiar form, with a crown, a mace, and a discus in your hand, just as you were before, with four arms, Krishna. I yearn for you to appear to me in this way, even though you have a thousand arms and infinite forms, Vishva-murti.

11.47

श्रीभगवानुवाच | मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात् | तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम् ||११-४७||

śrībhagavānuvāca . mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṃ rūpaṃ paraṃ darśitamātmayogāt . tejomayaṃ viśvamanantamādyaṃ yanme tvadanyena na dṛṣṭapūrvam ||11-47||

Krishna said, Arjuna, I've revealed my supreme form to you through my own divine power, a dazzling, infinite, and eternal vision that no one else has ever seen, filled with radiant light and the essence of the universe. This is a unique gift, one that I've granted only to you.

11.48

न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानैर्- न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः | एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर ||११-४८||

na vedayajñādhyayanairna dānaira- na ca kriyābhirna tapobhirugraiḥ . evaṃrūpaḥ śakya ahaṃ nṛloke draṣṭuṃ tvadanyena kurupravīra ||11-48||

No amount of studying the Vedas, performing sacrifices, giving generously, following rituals, or practicing intense self-discipline can allow anyone else to see me in this form, Arjuna, except for you, great warrior of the Kurus.

11.49

मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम् | व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य ||११-४९||

mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍhabhāvo dṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ ghoramīdṛṅmamedam . vyapetabhīḥ prītamanāḥ punastvaṃ tadeva me rūpamidaṃ prapaśya ||11-49||

Don't be frightened or disoriented by this frightening form of mine. Let go of your fear and with a heart full of joy, look at me again in my familiar form.

11.50

सञ्जय उवाच | इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः | आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनं भूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा ||११-५०||

sañjaya uvāca . ityarjunaṃ vāsudevastathoktvā svakaṃ rūpaṃ darśayāmāsa bhūyaḥ . āśvāsayāmāsa ca bhītamenaṃ bhūtvā punaḥ saumyavapurmahātmā ||11-50||

Sanjaya said, after speaking to Arjuna, Krishna revealed his normal form again and, taking on a gentle appearance, comforted Arjuna, who had been frightened. Krishna's reassuring presence calmed Arjuna's fears. With a calm and peaceful demeanor, the great Krishna soothed his disciple.

11.51

अर्जुन उवाच | दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तव सौम्यं जनार्दन | इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः ||११-५१||

arjuna uvāca . dṛṣṭvedaṃ mānuṣaṃ rūpaṃ tava saumyaṃ janārdana . idānīmasmi saṃvṛttaḥ sacetāḥ prakṛtiṃ gataḥ ||11-51||

Arjuna said, now that I've seen your gentle human form, Krishna, I'm at peace and back to my normal self.

11.52

श्रीभगवानुवाच | सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम | देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः ||११-५२||

śrībhagavānuvāca . sudurdarśamidaṃ rūpaṃ dṛṣṭavānasi yanmama . devā apyasya rūpasya nityaṃ darśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ ||11-52||

The form of me that you've seen is extremely rare and difficult to behold, and even the gods constantly yearn to catch a glimpse of it. Krishna says that what Arjuna has witnessed is a truly unique sight. The gods always desire to see this form, but it remains elusive to them.

11.53

नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया | शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा ||११-५३||

nāhaṃ vedairna tapasā na dānena na cejyayā . śakya evaṃvidho draṣṭuṃ dṛṣṭavānasi māṃ yathā ||11-53||

You haven't seen me in this form through studying the Vedas, practicing intense discipline, giving generously, or performing rituals, but you've been able to see me as I truly am, and that's a unique experience. No one can see me like this through those means, but you, Arjuna, have had a direct vision of me. I'm not accessible in this way through ordinary spiritual practices.

11.54

भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन | ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप ||११-५४||

bhaktyā tvananyayā śakya ahamevaṃvidho.arjuna . jñātuṃ draṣṭuṃ ca tattvena praveṣṭuṃ ca parantapa ||11-54||

Through unwavering devotion, Arjuna, you can truly know me, see me as I am, and become one with me, experiencing my true nature.

11.55

मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः | निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु यः स मामेति पाण्डव ||११-५५||

matkarmakṛnmatparamo madbhaktaḥ saṅgavarjitaḥ . nirvairaḥ sarvabhūteṣu yaḥ sa māmeti pāṇḍava ||11-55||

When you dedicate all your actions to me, consider me your highest goal, and cultivate unwavering devotion to me, letting go of attachments and harboring no hatred towards any being, then you will come to me, Arjuna.