Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 The Yoga of the Universal Form

Shloka 1 Krishna's Teaching Dispels Arjuna's Delusion arjuna uvācha | mad-anugrahāya paramaṁ guhyam adhyātma-saṁjñitam | yat tvayoktaṁ vachas tena moho 'yaṁ vigato mama || 11.1 || Arjuna said: Out of compassion for me, You have spoken the supreme and most confidential knowledge of the Self. By those words of Yours, this delusion of mine has been dispelled. → Shloka 2 Hearing of Creation, Dissolution and Imperishable Glory bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṁ śhrutau vistaraśho mayā | tvattaḥ kamala-patrākṣha māhātmyam api chāvyayam || 11.2 || O lotus-eyed Krishna, I have heard from You in detail about the origin and dissolution of all beings, and also about Your imperishable greatness. → Shloka 3 Arjuna's Longing to See the Divine Form evam etad yathāttha tvam ātmānaṁ parameśhvara | draṣhṭum ichchhāmi te rūpam aiśhvaryaṁ puruṣhottama || 11.3 || O Supreme Lord, You are exactly as You have described Yourself. Yet, O Supreme Person, I wish to see Your divine, majestic form. → Shloka 4 Arjuna Humbly Requests to See the Imperishable Self manyase yadi tach chhakyaṁ mayā draṣhṭum iti prabho | yogeśhvara tato me tvaṁ darśhayātmānam avyayam || 11.4 || O Lord, if You think that it is possible for me to see it, then, O Master of Yoga, please show me Your imperishable Self. → Shloka 5 The Lord Invites Arjuna to Behold His Many Divine Forms śhrī bhagavān uvācha | paśhya me pārtha rūpāṇi śhataśho 'tha sahasraśhaḥ | nānā-vidhāni divyāni nānā-varṇākṛitīni cha || 11.5 || The Blessed Lord said: O Arjuna, son of Pritha, behold My forms by the hundreds and thousands, manifold and divine, of various colors and shapes. → Shloka 6 Behold the Gods and Wonders Never Seen Before paśhyādityān vasūn rudrān aśhvinau marutas tathā | bahūny adṛiṣhṭa-pūrvāṇi paśhyāśhcharyāṇi bhārata || 11.6 || Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvins, and the Maruts. O descendant of Bharata, behold many wonders never seen before. → Shloka 7 The Entire Universe Within One Body ihaika-sthaṁ jagat kṛitsnaṁ paśhyādya sa-charācharam | mama dehe guḍākeśha yach chānyad draṣhṭum ichchhasi || 11.7 || O Gudakesha, behold now, gathered together in this body of Mine, the entire universe, moving and unmoving, and whatever else you wish to see. → Shloka 8 Divine Vision Is Needed to See the Divine na tu māṁ śhakyase draṣhṭum anenaiva sva-chakṣhuṣhā | divyaṁ dadāmi te chakṣhuḥ paśhya me yogam aiśhvaram || 11.8 || But you cannot see Me with these eyes of yours alone. I give you divine vision; behold My divine, sovereign yoga. → Shloka 9 Hari Reveals His Supreme Divine Form sañjaya uvācha | evam uktvā tato rājan mahā-yogeśhvaro hariḥ | darśhayām āsa pārthāya paramaṁ rūpam aiśhvaram || 11.9 || Sanjaya said: O King, having spoken thus, Hari, the great Lord of Yoga, then revealed to Arjuna, the son of Pritha, His supreme and divine form. → Shloka 10 The Many-Faced, Many-Armed Wonder aneka-vaktra-nayanam anekādbhuta-darśhanam | aneka-divyābharaṇaṁ divyānekodyatāyudham || 11.10 || That form had many mouths and eyes, many wonderful sights, many divine ornaments, and many divine weapons held aloft. → Shloka 11 Radiant, Infinite and Fragrant with Divinity divya-mālyāmbara-dharaṁ divya-gandhānulepanam | sarvāśhcharya-mayaṁ devam anantaṁ viśhvato-mukham || 11.11 || He wore divine garlands and garments, was anointed with divine fragrances, and was full of all wonders, the radiant, infinite Lord with faces turned everywhere. → Shloka 12 The Splendor of a Thousand Suns divi sūrya-sahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthitā | yadi bhāḥ sadṛiśhī sā syād bhāsas tasya mahātmanaḥ || 11.12 || If the splendor of a thousand suns were to rise at once in the sky, it might resemble the radiance of that exalted Being. → Shloka 13 Arjuna Sees the Whole Universe in the God of Gods tatraika-sthaṁ jagat kṛitsnaṁ pravibhaktam anekadhā | apaśhyad deva-devasya śharīre pāṇḍavas tadā || 11.13 || There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna then saw the entire universe, divided into many parts, standing together in one place. → Shloka 14 Wonderstruck Arjuna Bows with Folded Hands tataḥ sa vismayāviṣhṭo hṛiṣhṭa-romā dhanañjayaḥ | praṇamya śhirasā devaṁ kṛitāñjalir abhāṣhata || 11.14 || Then Arjuna, filled with amazement and with his hair standing on end, bowed his head to the Lord and, with folded hands, spoke. → Shloka 15 Arjuna Sees All Gods and Beings in the Lord's Body arjuna uvācha | paśhyāmi devāṁs tava deva dehe sarvāṁs tathā bhūta-viśheṣha-saṅghān | brahmāṇam īśhaṁ kamalāsana-sthaṁ ṛiṣhīṁśh cha sarvān uragāṁśh cha divyān || 11.15 || Arjuna said: O Lord, I see in Your body all the gods, as well as the hosts of various kinds of beings; Brahma seated on the lotus, Shiva, all the sages, and the divine serpents. → Shloka 16 Arjuna Sees the Infinite Universal Form Without Beginning or End aneka-bāhūdara-vaktra-netraṁ paśhyāmi tvāṁ sarvato 'nanta-rūpam | nāntaṁ na madhyaṁ na punas tavādiṁ paśhyāmi viśhveśhvara viśhva-rūpa || 11.16 || O Lord of the universe, O Universal Form, I see You everywhere with countless arms, bellies, mouths and eyes, and with infinite forms. I see neither Your end, nor Your middle, nor Your beginning. → Shloka 17 A Blazing Mass of Radiance, Hard to Behold kirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ chakriṇaṁ cha tejo-rāśiṁ sarvato dīptimantam | paśhyāmi tvāṁ durnirīkṣhyaṁ samantād dīptānalārka-dyutim aprameyam || 11.17 || I see You with a crown, a mace and a discus, a mass of radiance shining on all sides. You are difficult to look at from every direction, with the brilliance of blazing fire and the sun, and You are immeasurable. → Shloka 18 You Are the Imperishable, the Supreme Refuge of the Universe tvam akṣharaṁ paramaṁ veditavyaṁ tvam asya viśhvasya paraṁ nidhānam | tvam avyayaḥ śhāśhvata-dharma-goptā sanātanas tvaṁ puruṣho mato me || 11.18 || You are the Imperishable, the Supreme to be known. You are the ultimate resting place of this universe. You are the changeless protector of eternal dharma. You are the eternal Person; this is my conviction. → Shloka 19 The Lord Without Beginning, Middle or End, Blazing with Fire anādi-madhyāntam ananta-vīryam ananta-bāhuṁ śhaśhi-sūrya-netram | paśhyāmi tvāṁ dīpta-hutāśha-vaktraṁ sva-tejasā viśhvam idaṁ tapantam || 11.19 || I see You without beginning, middle or end, with infinite power and countless arms, with the moon and the sun as Your eyes, and with a mouth like blazing fire, heating this entire universe with Your own radiance. → Shloka 20 Heaven, Earth and All Directions Pervaded by the Lord Alone dyāv ā-pṛithivyor idam antaraṁ hi vyāptaṁ tvayaikena diśhaśh cha sarvāḥ | dṛiṣhṭvādbhutaṁ rūpam ugraṁ tavedaṁ loka-trayaṁ pravyathitaṁ mahātman || 11.20 || This space between heaven and earth, and all the directions, are pervaded by You alone. O Great Soul, seeing this wondrous and terrible form of Yours, the three worlds tremble. → Shloka 21 Gods and Sages Enter and Praise the Lord amī hi tvāṁ sura-saṅghā viśhanti kechid bhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛiṇanti | svastīty uktvā maharṣhi-siddha-saṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṁ stutibhiḥ puṣhkalābhiḥ || 11.21 || These hosts of gods are entering into You; some, frightened, praise You with folded hands. Saying 'May there be well-being,' the hosts of great sages and perfected beings glorify You with abundant hymns. → Shloka 22 All Celestial Hosts Gaze at the Lord in Astonishment rudrādityā vasavo ye cha sādhyā viśhve 'śhvinau marutaśh choṣhmapāśh cha | gandharva-yakṣhāsura-siddha-saṅghā vīkṣhante tvāṁ vismitāśh chaiva sarve || 11.22 || The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Vishvedevas, the two Ashvins, the Maruts, and the Ushmapas, as well as the hosts of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras and Siddhas, all gaze at You, utterly astonished. → Shloka 23 Seeing the Fearsome Immense Form, the Worlds and Arjuna Tremble rūpaṁ mahat te bahu-vaktra-netraṁ mahā-bāho bahu-bāhūru-pādam | bahūdaraṁ bahu-daṁṣhṭrā-karālaṁ dṛiṣhṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathāham || 11.23 || O mighty-armed one, seeing Your immense form with many mouths and eyes, many arms, thighs and feet, many bellies, and fearsome with many tusks, the worlds are terrified, and so am I. → Shloka 24 Arjuna Loses Courage and Peace Before the Sky-Touching Blaze nabhaḥ-spṛiśhaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁ vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viśhāla-netram | dṛiṣhṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntar-ātmā dhṛitiṁ na vindāmi śhamaṁ cha viṣhṇo || 11.24 || O Vishnu, seeing You touching the sky, blazing, many-colored, with open mouths and large glowing eyes, my inner self is shaken, and I find neither courage nor peace. → Shloka 25 Arjuna Prays for Grace Amid the Fire of Time daṁṣhṭrā-karālāni cha te mukhāni dṛiṣhṭvaiva kālānala-sannibhāni | diśho na jāne na labhe cha śharma prasīda deveśha jagan-nivāsa || 11.25 || Seeing Your mouths, fearsome with tusks and resembling the fire of cosmic dissolution, I lose my sense of direction and find no comfort. O Lord of gods, abode of the universe, be gracious. → Shloka 26 The Kuru Warriors Begin to Rush into the Cosmic Form amī cha tvāṁ dhṛitarāṣhṭrasya putrāḥ sarve sahaivāvani-pāla-saṅghaiḥ | bhīṣhmo droṇaḥ sūta-putras tathāsau sahāsmadīyair api yodha-mukhyaiḥ || 11.26 || All these sons of Dhritarashtra, together with the hosts of kings, and Bhishma, Drona and that Karna, the charioteer's son, along with the chief warriors of our side as well— → Shloka 27 Warriors Rush into the Fearsome Mouths of Time vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśhanti daṁṣhṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni | kechid vilagnā daśhanāntareṣhu sandṛiśhyante chūrṇitair uttamāṅgaiḥ || 11.27 || They are rushing hastily into Your dreadful mouths, terrible with tusks. Some are seen caught between the teeth, with their heads crushed to powder. → Shloka 28 Like Rivers Flowing to the Ocean, Heroes Enter the Blazing Mouths yathā nadīnāṁ bahavo 'mbu-vegāḥ samudram evābhimukhā dravanti | tathā tavāmī nara-loka-vīrā viśhanti vaktrāṇy abhivijvalanti || 11.28 || As the many rushing waters of rivers flow toward the ocean, so do these heroes of the world of men enter Your blazing mouths. → Shloka 29 Like Moths Rushing into a Blazing Fire yathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ patangā viśhanti nāśhāya samṛiddha-vegāḥ | tathaiva nāśhāya viśhanti lokās tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛiddha-vegāḥ || 11.29 || As moths rush with great speed into a blazing fire to perish, so too do these people enter Your mouths with great speed for their destruction. → Shloka 30 The Blazing Mouths Devour All the Worlds lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāl lokān samagrān vadanair jvaladbhiḥ | tejobhir āpūrya jagat samagraṁ bhāsas tavograḥ pratapanti viṣhṇo || 11.30 || You are licking up and devouring all the worlds on every side with Your flaming mouths. Filling the entire universe with Your radiance, O Vishnu, Your terrible rays are burning. → Shloka 31 Who Are You? Arjuna Asks the Fierce Form ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo namo 'stu te deva-vara prasīda | vijñātum ichchhāmi bhavantam ādyaṁ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛittim || 11.31 || Tell me who You are, with this fierce form. Salutations to You, O best of gods; be gracious. I wish to know You, the primeval One, for I do not understand Your purpose. → Shloka 32 I Am Time, the Mighty Destroyer of Worlds śhrī bhagavān uvācha | kālo 'smi loka-kṣhaya-kṛit pravṛiddho lokān samāhartum iha pravṛittaḥ | ṛite 'pi tvāṁ na bhaviṣhyanti sarve ye 'vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣhu yodhāḥ || 11.32 || The Blessed Lord said: I am Time, the mighty destroyer of the worlds, engaged here in annihilating the worlds. Even without you, all these warriors standing in the opposing armies shall cease to exist. → Shloka 33 Arise and Be Merely an Instrument tasmāt tvam uttiṣhṭha yaśho labhasva jitvā śhatrūn bhuṅkṣhva rājyaṁ samṛiddham | mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savyasāchin || 11.33 || Therefore arise and attain glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. By Me alone they have already been slain; be merely an instrument, O Savyasachi. → Shloka 34 Fight Without Fear; Victory Awaits droṇaṁ cha bhīṣhmaṁ cha jayadrathaṁ cha karṇaṁ tathānyān api yodha-vīrān | mayā hatāṁs tvaṁ jahi mā vyathiṣhṭhā yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān || 11.34 || Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and other brave warriors have already been slain by Me. Destroy them; do not be afraid. Fight! You will conquer your rivals in battle. → Shloka 35 Trembling Arjuna Bows Again and Speaks in a Faltering Voice sañjaya uvācha | etach chhrutvā vachanaṁ keśhavasya kṛitāñjalir vepamānaḥ kirīṭī | namaskṛitvā bhūya evāha kṛiṣhṇaṁ sa-gadgadaṁ bhīta-bhītaḥ praṇamya || 11.35 || Sanjaya said: Having heard these words of Keshava, Arjuna, the crowned one, trembling and with folded hands, bowed down again and, overwhelmed with fear, spoke to Krishna in a faltering voice, bowing before Him. → Shloka 36 The World Rejoices in the Lord's Glory While Demons Flee arjuna uvācha | sthāne hṛiṣhīkeśha tava prakīrtyā jagat prahṛiṣhyaty anurajyate cha | rakṣhāṁsi bhītāni diśho dravanti sarve namasyanti cha siddha-saṅghāḥ || 11.36 || Arjuna said: O Hrishikesha, it is right that the world rejoices and is attracted by the glorification of You. The demons flee in fear in all directions, and all the hosts of perfected beings bow to You. → Shloka 37 Why Should They Not Bow to the One Greater Than Brahma? kasmāch cha te na nameran mahātman garīyase brahmaṇo 'py ādi-kartre | ananta deveśha jagan-nivāsa tvam akṣharaṁ sad-asat tat paraṁ yat || 11.37 || And why should they not bow to You, O Great Soul, who are greater than even Brahma, the original creator? O Infinite One, Lord of gods, abode of the universe, You are the Imperishable, the manifest and the unmanifest, and that which is beyond both. → Shloka 38 You Are the Primal God, the Knower and the Known tvam ādi-devaḥ puruṣhaḥ purāṇas tvam asya viśhvasya paraṁ nidhānam | vettāsi vedyaṁ cha paraṁ cha dhāma tvayā tataṁ viśhvam ananta-rūpa || 11.38 || You are the primal God, the ancient Person; You are the supreme resting place of this universe. You are the knower, the known, and the supreme abode. By You the universe is pervaded, O One of infinite form. → Shloka 39 Salutations a Thousand Times and Again vāyur yamo 'gnir varuṇaḥ śhaśhāṅkaḥ prajāpatis tvaṁ prapitāmahaś cha | namo namas te 'stu sahasra-kṛitvaḥ punaś cha bhūyo 'pi namo namas te || 11.39 || You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, Prajapati, and the great-grandfather of all. Salutations, salutations to You a thousand times, and again and yet again salutations to You. → Shloka 40 Salutations from Every Side; You Are Everything namaḥ purastād atha pṛiṣhṭhatas te namo 'stu te sarvata eva sarva | ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas tvaṁ sarvaṁ samāpnoṣhi tato 'si sarvaḥ || 11.40 || Salutations to You from the front and from behind; salutations to You from every side, O All. You are of infinite power and immeasurable might. You pervade everything, and therefore You are everything. → Shloka 41 Forgive Me for Calling You Friend Carelessly sakheti matvā prasabhaṁ yad uktaṁ he kṛiṣhṇa he yādava he sakheti | ajānatā mahimānaṁ tavedaṁ mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi || 11.41 || Thinking of You as a friend, I rashly addressed You as 'O Krishna, O Yadava, O friend,' not knowing this greatness of Yours, out of negligence or even out of affection. → Shloka 42 Forgiveness for Disrespect Shown in Jest yach chāvahāsārtham asat-kṛito 'si vihāra-śhayyāsana-bhojaneṣhu | eko 'tha vāpy achyuta tat-samakṣhaṁ tat kṣhāmaye tvām aham aprameyam || 11.42 || And whatever disrespect was shown to You in jest, while playing, resting, sitting or eating, whether alone or in the presence of others, O Achyuta, for that I ask forgiveness from You, the immeasurable. → Shloka 43 You Are the Father, the Worshipable and the Greatest Guru pitāsi lokasya charācharasya tvam asya pūjyaś cha gurur garīyān | na tvat-samo 'sty abhyadhikaḥ kuto 'nyo loka-traye 'py apratima-prabhāva || 11.43 || You are the father of this world, of the moving and the unmoving. You are its worshipable object and the greatest teacher. There is none equal to You, so how could there be anyone greater in the three worlds, O One of incomparable power? → Shloka 44 Bowing Down, Arjuna Asks to Be Forgiven Like a Beloved tasmāt praṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṁ prasādaye tvām aham īśham īḍyam | piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum || 11.44 || Therefore, bowing down and prostrating my body, I seek Your grace, O adorable Lord. As a father forgives his son, a friend his friend, and a lover his beloved, so You should bear with me, O Lord. → Shloka 45 Delighted and Frightened, Arjuna Asks for the Gentle Form adṛiṣhṭa-pūrvaṁ hṛiṣhito 'smi dṛiṣhṭvā bhayena cha pravyathitaṁ mano me | tad eva me darśhaya deva rūpaṁ prasīda deveśha jagan-nivāsa || 11.45 || I am delighted at having seen what was never seen before, yet my mind is shaken with fear. Show me that same form, O Lord; be gracious, O Lord of gods, abode of the universe. → Shloka 46 Arjuna Longs for the Four-Armed Form with Crown, Mace and Discus kirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ chakra-hastam ichchhāmi tvāṁ draṣhṭum ahaṁ tathaiva | tenaiva rūpeṇa chatur-bhujena sahasra-bāho bhava viśhva-mūrte || 11.46 || I wish to see You as before, with a crown, a mace and a discus in hand. O thousand-armed One, O Universal Form, assume that same four-armed form. → Shloka 47 The Lord Reveals That This Form Was Shown Only by His Grace śhrī bhagavān uvācha | mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṁ rūpaṁ paraṁ darśhitam ātma-yogāt | tejo-mayaṁ viśhvam anantam ādyaṁ yan me tvad-anyena na dṛiṣhṭa-pūrvam || 11.47 || The Blessed Lord said: O Arjuna, being pleased with you, I have shown you, through My own yogic power, this supreme form, full of radiance, universal, infinite and primeval, which no one other than you has seen before. → Shloka 48 This Form Cannot Be Seen by Study, Rituals, Charity or Austerity na veda-yajñādhyayanair na dānair na cha kriyābhir na tapobhir ugraiḥ | evaṁ-rūpaḥ śhakya ahaṁ nṛi-loke draṣhṭuṁ tvad-anyena kuru-pravīra || 11.48 || Not by the study of the Vedas and sacrifices, nor by charity, nor by rituals, nor by severe austerities can I be seen in this form in the human world by anyone other than you, O hero of the Kurus. → Shloka 49 Let There Be No Fear; Behold the Familiar Form Again mā te vyathā mā cha vimūḍha-bhāvo dṛiṣhṭvā rūpaṁ ghoram īdṛiṅ mamedam | vyapeta-bhīḥ prīta-manāḥ punas tvaṁ tad eva me rūpam idaṁ prapaśhya || 11.49 || Let there be no fear in you, nor bewilderment, on seeing this terrible form of Mine. Free from fear and with a pleased mind, behold again this same form of Mine. → Shloka 50 Vasudeva Shows His Gentle Form and Consoles Arjuna sañjaya uvācha | ity arjunaṁ vāsudevas tathoktvā svakaṁ rūpaṁ darśhayām āsa bhūyaḥ | āśhvāsayām āsa cha bhītam enaṁ bhūtvā punaḥ saumya-vapur mahātmā || 11.50 || Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Arjuna, Vasudeva again showed His own form. The great-souled One, assuming again a gentle form, consoled the frightened Arjuna. → Shloka 51 Arjuna Regains Composure Seeing the Gentle Human Form arjuna uvācha | dṛiṣhṭvedaṁ mānuṣhaṁ rūpaṁ tava saumyaṁ janārdana | idānīm asmi saṁvṛittaḥ sa-chetāḥ prakṛitiṁ gataḥ || 11.51 || Arjuna said: Seeing this gentle human form of Yours, O Janardana, I have now become composed and have returned to my natural state. → Shloka 52 Even the Gods Long to See This Rarely Seen Form śhrī bhagavān uvācha | su-durdarśham idaṁ rūpaṁ dṛiṣhṭavān asi yan mama | devā apy asya rūpasya nityaṁ darśhana-kāṅkṣhiṇaḥ || 11.52 || The Blessed Lord said: This form of Mine that you have seen is very difficult to see. Even the gods are always eager to behold this form. → Shloka 53 Not by Vedas, Austerity, Charity or Sacrifice Can I Be Seen So nāhaṁ vedair na tapasā na dānena na chejyayā | śhakya evaṁ-vidho draṣhṭuṁ dṛiṣhṭavān asi māṁ yathā || 11.53 || Neither by the Vedas, nor by austerity, nor by charity, nor by sacrifice can I be seen in this way, as you have seen Me. → Shloka 54 Only Through Unalloyed Devotion Can the Lord Be Known and Entered bhaktyā tv ananyayā śhakya aham evaṁ-vidho 'rjuna | jñātuṁ draṣhṭuṁ cha tattvena praveṣhṭuṁ cha parantapa || 11.54 || But by unalloyed devotion, O Arjuna, I can be known in this form, seen in reality, and entered into, O scorcher of foes. → Shloka 55 The Essence of the Gita: Act for Me, Love Me, Hate None mat-karma-kṛin mat-paramo mad-bhaktaḥ saṅga-varjitaḥ | nirvairaḥ sarva-bhūteṣhu yaḥ sa mām eti pāṇḍava || 11.55 || One who performs actions for Me, regards Me as the supreme goal, is devoted to Me, free from attachment, and without enmity toward all beings, comes to Me, O Pandava. →