Bhagavad Gita 11.23 — Seeing the Fearsome Immense Form, the Worlds and Arjuna Tremble
रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम् ।
बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालं दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाहम् ॥ ११.२३ ॥
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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.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| rūpam | form |
| mahat | immense |
| te | Your |
| bahu-vaktra-netram | with many mouths and eyes |
| mahā-bāho | O mighty-armed one |
| bahu-bāhu-ūru-pādam | with many arms, thighs and feet |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| bahu-udaram | with many bellies |
| bahu-daṁṣhṭrā-karālam | fearsome with many tusks |
| dṛiṣhṭvā | having seen |
| lokāḥ | the worlds; the beings |
| pravyathitāḥ | terrified; deeply disturbed |
| tathā | so |
| aham | I |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| rūpam | form | bahu-udaram | with many bellies |
| mahat | immense | bahu-daṁṣhṭrā-karālam | fearsome with many tusks |
| te | Your | dṛiṣhṭvā | having seen |
| bahu-vaktra-netram | with many mouths and eyes | lokāḥ | the worlds; the beings |
| mahā-bāho | O mighty-armed one | pravyathitāḥ | terrified; deeply disturbed |
| bahu-bāhu-ūru-pādam | with many arms, thighs and feet | tathā | so |
| aham | I | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Arjuna sees the Lord's immense form with countless mouths, eyes, arms, thighs, feet and bellies, and fearsome with many tusks. He says that all the worlds are shaken, and so is he.
Essence
When Vastness Becomes Frightening
Arjuna now turns the description inward. He no longer speaks as an observer of how others react, but acknowledges his own fear. This honesty is part of what makes his devotion real.
Mahat te rūpaṁ bahuvaktra-netram (your immense form with many mouths and eyes): The form has become so vast that Arjuna can no longer take it in as a whole. It is impossible to grasp at once.
Bahūdaraṁ bahudaṁṣṭrā-karālam (with many bellies, made terrible by many tusks): The bellies suggest the capacity to hold all beings, and the tusks suggest the power to destroy. The Lord both sustains and dissolves.
Dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathāham (seeing it, the worlds tremble, and so do I): Arjuna includes himself. He does not pretend to be unmoved. Spiritual honesty means admitting our fear instead of hiding it.
The shift in tone: From verse 15 until now, the vision was one of wonder. From here onward, it takes on a tone of dread. This shows that the Lord's reality includes aspects that unsettle the ego.
Message for Everyday Life (Honesty About Our Fear)
Admit what frightens you: Pretending to be fearless often increases anxiety. Naming fear allows us to work with it.
Practical approach: Speak openly with a trusted person or write down your fears. Acknowledged fear loses much of its power over us.
When Vastness Becomes Frightening
Arjuna now turns the description inward. He no longer speaks as an observer of how others react, but acknowledges his own fear. This honesty is part of what makes his devotion real.
Mahat te rūpaṁ bahuvaktra-netram (your immense form with many mouths and eyes): The form has become so vast that Arjuna can no longer take it in as a whole. It is impossible to grasp at once.
Bahūdaraṁ bahudaṁṣṭrā-karālam (with many bellies, made terrible by many tusks): The bellies suggest the capacity to hold all beings, and the tusks suggest the power to destroy. The Lord both sustains and dissolves.
Dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathāham (seeing it, the worlds tremble, and so do I): Arjuna includes himself. He does not pretend to be unmoved. Spiritual honesty means admitting our fear instead of hiding it.
The shift in tone: From verse 15 until now, the vision was one of wonder. From here onward, it takes on a tone of dread. This shows that the Lord's reality includes aspects that unsettle the ego.
Message for Everyday Life (Honesty About Our Fear)
Admit what frightens you: Pretending to be fearless often increases anxiety. Naming fear allows us to work with it.
Practical approach: Speak openly with a trusted person or write down your fears. Acknowledged fear loses much of its power over us.
Next Topic
Arjuna has admitted that he too is shaken. In the next verse, he describes with deepening distress the sky-touching, blazing form that has left him without courage or peace.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Even the brave tremble before the infinite.
Admitting fear is the start of surrender.
Truth is larger than comfort.
Greatness can be fearsome as well as beautiful.
The vast teaches the mighty their size.
Fear shown together is easier to bear.
Overwhelm precedes understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meant by 'bahu-vaktra-netram' (with many mouths and eyes)?
What does 'mahā-bāho' (O mighty-armed one) express?
Why does the form appear 'bahu-daṁṣhṭrā-karālam' (fearsome with many tusks)?
Why do the 'lokāḥ' (worlds) tremble?
Why does Arjuna add 'tathā aham' (so am I)?
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