Bhagavad Gita 11.30 — The Blazing Mouths Devour All the Worlds
लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ताल्लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः ।
तेजोभिरापूर्य जगत्समग्रं भासस्तवोग्राः प्रतपन्ति विष्णो ॥ ११.३० ॥
🔊 Listen to meaning of this shloka
Current voice: —
Ready
Text-to-speech is not supported by this browser.
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.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| lelihyase | You are licking up |
| grasamānaḥ | devouring |
| samantāt | on all sides |
| lokān | the worlds; the beings |
| samagrān | all; entire |
| vadanaiḥ | with mouths |
| jvaladbhiḥ | flaming |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| tejobhiḥ | with radiance |
| āpūrya | having filled |
| jagat | the universe |
| samagram | entire |
| bhāsaḥ | rays; splendors |
| tava | Your |
| ugrāḥ | terrible; fierce |
| pratapanti | burn; scorch |
| viṣhṇo | O Vishnu |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| lelihyase | You are licking up | tejobhiḥ | with radiance |
| grasamānaḥ | devouring | āpūrya | having filled |
| samantāt | on all sides | jagat | the universe |
| lokān | the worlds; the beings | samagram | entire |
| samagrān | all; entire | bhāsaḥ | rays; splendors |
| vadanaiḥ | with mouths | tava | Your |
| jvaladbhiḥ | flaming | ugrāḥ | terrible; fierce |
| pratapanti | burn; scorch | ||
| viṣhṇo | O Vishnu | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Arjuna sees the Lord licking up and devouring all the worlds on every side with blazing mouths, while his fierce radiance fills the universe and burns with intense heat.
Essence
The Lord as the One Who Withdraws All
The images become more intense. Arjuna no longer sees beings merely entering the Lord's mouths; he sees the Lord actively consuming them. Creation is not only sustained by the Lord; it is also withdrawn into him.
Lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāt (you lick up, devouring from all sides): The image is of the Lord tasting and absorbing all that exists. It expresses the total and effortless nature of dissolution. Nothing can escape or resist.
Lokān samagrān vadanair jvaladbhiḥ (all the worlds with flaming mouths): The word samagra means entire. The whole of creation, not just a part of it, is brought within the Lord.
Tejobhir āpūrya jagat samagram (filling the entire world with radiance): The same Lord who dissolves also fills the universe with energy. Destruction and light are two aspects of one power.
Bhāsas tavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo (your fierce rays scorch, O Viṣṇu): The rays burn because the Lord's power is beyond what ordinary beings can bear. Arjuna again calls him Viṣṇu, the all-pervading, recognising that this fierce power pervades everything.
Message for Everyday Life (Accepting the Cycle of Endings)
Everything that begins also ends: Careers, relationships and stages of life all come to a close. Seeing endings as part of a larger rhythm reduces bitterness.
Practical approach: When something ends, honour what it gave you, then make space for what comes next. Acceptance prevents us from clinging to what is already gone.
The Lord as the One Who Withdraws All
The images become more intense. Arjuna no longer sees beings merely entering the Lord's mouths; he sees the Lord actively consuming them. Creation is not only sustained by the Lord; it is also withdrawn into him.
Lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāt (you lick up, devouring from all sides): The image is of the Lord tasting and absorbing all that exists. It expresses the total and effortless nature of dissolution. Nothing can escape or resist.
Lokān samagrān vadanair jvaladbhiḥ (all the worlds with flaming mouths): The word samagra means entire. The whole of creation, not just a part of it, is brought within the Lord.
Tejobhir āpūrya jagat samagram (filling the entire world with radiance): The same Lord who dissolves also fills the universe with energy. Destruction and light are two aspects of one power.
Bhāsas tavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo (your fierce rays scorch, O Viṣṇu): The rays burn because the Lord's power is beyond what ordinary beings can bear. Arjuna again calls him Viṣṇu, the all-pervading, recognising that this fierce power pervades everything.
Message for Everyday Life (Accepting the Cycle of Endings)
Everything that begins also ends: Careers, relationships and stages of life all come to a close. Seeing endings as part of a larger rhythm reduces bitterness.
Practical approach: When something ends, honour what it gave you, then make space for what comes next. Acceptance prevents us from clinging to what is already gone.
Next Topic
Arjuna has seen the Lord devouring and scorching all the worlds. Overwhelmed and unable to understand, he now asks a direct question in the next verse: who is this fierce being, and what is he doing?
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Everything made in time is also unmade by it.
The sun that warms can also scorch.
Every ending is part of a larger pattern.
Wisdom does not look away from impermanence.
True power holds both creation and dissolution.
Before time, all rank dissolves.
Some visions are too big to be pleasant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'lelihyase' (You are licking up) convey?
What is meant by 'lokān samagrān' (all the worlds)?
Why does the verse mention 'vadanair jvaladbhiḥ' (with flaming mouths)?
What do 'tejobhiḥ' (with radiance) and 'bhāsaḥ' (rays) tell us?
Why is Krishna addressed as 'Viṣhṇo' (O Vishnu)?
Explore related topics
More shlokas on the themes this verse touches: