Vyāsa (traditional attribution) · Complete work
Chapter 11 — The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form
Chapter 11 — The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form of 18. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Sanskrit
ॐश्रीपरमात्मने नमः
अर्जुन उवाच मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम् ।यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम ॥११- १॥
भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया ।त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ॥११- २॥
एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर ।द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ॥११- ३॥
मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो ।योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ॥११- ४॥
श्रीभगवानुवाचपश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ।नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च ॥११- ५॥
पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा ।बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत ॥११- ६॥
इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम् ।मम देहे गुडाकेश यच्चान्यद् द्रष्टुमिच्छसि ॥११- ७॥
न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा ।दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ॥११- ८॥
सञ्जय उवाचएवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः ।दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम् ॥११- ९॥
अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम् ।अनेकदिव्याभरणं दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम् ॥११- १०॥
दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् ।सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवमनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम् ॥११- ११॥
दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता ।यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥११- १२॥
तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा ।अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा ॥११- १३॥
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनंजयः ।प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ॥११- १४॥
अर्जुन उवाचपश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहेसर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसंघान् ।ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थ-मृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान् ॥११- १५॥
अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रंपश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम् ।नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिंपश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप ॥११- १६॥
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं चतेजोराशिं सर्वतो दीप्तिमन्तम् ।पश्यामि त्वां दुर्निरीक्ष्यं समन्ता-द्दीप्तानलार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम् ॥११- १७॥
त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यंत्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् ।त्वमव्ययः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्तासनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे ॥११- १८॥
अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य-मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम् ।पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रंस्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् ॥११- १९॥
द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हिव्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः ।दृष्ट्वाद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदंलोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन् ॥११- २०॥
अमी हि त्वां सुरसंघा विशन्तिकेचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति ।स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसंघाःस्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ॥११- २१॥
रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्याविश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च ।गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसंघावीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे ॥११- २२॥
रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रंमहाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम् ।बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालंदृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाहम् ॥११- २३॥
नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णंव्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् ।दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्माधृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो ॥११- २४॥
दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानिदृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि ।दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्मप्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥११- २५॥
अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राःसर्वे सहैवावनिपालसंघैः ।भीष्मो द्रोणः सूतपुत्रस्तथासौसहास्मदीयैरपि योधमुख्यैः ॥११- २६॥
वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्तिदंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि ।केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषुसंदृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः ॥११- २७॥
यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाःसमुद्रमेवाभिमुखा द्रवन्ति ।तथा तवामी नरलोकवीराविशन्ति वक्त्राण्यभिविज्वलन्ति ॥११- २८॥
यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गाविशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः ।तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोका- स्तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः ॥११- २९॥
लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ता-ल्लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः ।तेजोभिरापूर्य जगत्समग्रंभासस्तवोग्राः प्रतपन्ति विष्णो ॥११- ३०॥
आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपोनमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद ।विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यंन हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम् ॥११- ३१॥
श्रीभगवानुवाचकालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धोलोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः ।ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वेयेऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः ॥११- ३२॥
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्वजित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् ।मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेवनिमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥११- ३३॥
द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं चकर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् ।मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठायुध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ॥११- ३४॥
सञ्जय उवाचएतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्यकृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी ।नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णंसगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य ॥११- ३५॥
अर्जुन उवाचस्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्याजगत्प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च ।रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्तिसर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसंघाः ॥११- ३६॥
कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे ।अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवासत्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत् ॥११- ३७॥
त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराण-स्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् ।वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धामत्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप ॥११- ३८॥
वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कःप्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च ।नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वःपुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते ॥११- ३९॥
नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्तेनमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व ।अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वंसर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ॥११- ४०॥
सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तंहे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति ।अजानता महिमानं तवेदंमया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि ॥११- ४१॥
यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसिविहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु ।एकोऽथवाप्यच्युत तत्समक्षंतत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम् ॥११- ४२॥
पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्यत्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान् ।न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्योलोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव ॥११- ४३॥
तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायंप्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम् ।पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम् ॥११- ४४॥
अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वाभयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे ।तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपंप्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥११- ४५॥
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्त-मिच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव ।तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेनसहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते ॥११- ४६॥
श्रीभगवानुवाचमया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदंरूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात् ।तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यंयन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम् ॥११- ४७॥
न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै-र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः ।एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोकेद्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर ॥११- ४८॥
मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावोदृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम् ।व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वंतदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य ॥११- ४९॥
सञ्जय उवाचइत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वास्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः ।आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनंभूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा ॥११- ५०॥
अर्जुन उवाचदृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तव सौम्यं जनार्दन ।इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः ॥११- ५१॥
श्रीभगवानुवाचसुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम ।देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥११- ५२॥
नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया ।शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा ॥११- ५३॥
भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन ।ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परंतप ॥११- ५४॥
मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः ।निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु यः स मामेति पाण्डव ॥११- ५५॥
ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रेश्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे विश्वरूपदर्शनयोगो नामैकादशोऽध्यायः ॥ ११ ॥
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from all 18 Sanskrit chapters and 700 verses for fidelity, modern clarity, philosophical precision, symbolism, structure, and cadence.
Om
Homage to the blessed Supreme Self
Arjuna said
For my sake, you have spoken the supreme secret,the teaching called knowledge of the Self;through those words of yours,this delusion of mine has passed away. ॥११- १॥
For I have heard from you in fullof the arising and passing away of beings,O Lotus-Eyed One,and also of your imperishable greatness. ॥११- २॥
It is just as you have declared yourself to be,O Supreme Lord.I long to see your sovereign form,O Supreme Person. ॥११- ३॥
If you think that I am ableto behold it, O Lord,then, O Lord of Yoga, reveal to meyour imperishable Self. ॥११- ४॥
The Blessed Lord said
Behold my forms, O Partha,by hundreds and by thousands,manifold and divine,of many colors and shapes. ॥११- ५॥
Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras,the Ashvins and the Maruts;behold, O Bharata, many wondersnever seen before. ॥११- ६॥
Behold now, gathered here in one place,the whole universe, moving and unmoving,within my body, O Conqueror of Sleep,and whatever else you wish to see. ॥११- ७॥
But you cannot behold mewith these eyes of your own.I give you divine sight:behold my sovereign yoga. ॥११- ८॥
Sanjaya said
Having spoken thus, O King,Hari, the great Lord of Yoga,revealed to Parthahis supreme sovereign form. ॥११- ९॥
With countless mouths and eyes,with countless wondrous visions,with countless divine ornaments,with countless divine weapons raised; ॥११- १०॥
wearing divine garlands and garments,anointed with divine fragrances,the God made wholly of wonders,infinite, with faces turned everywhere. ॥११- ११॥
If the radiance of a thousand sunswere to rise all at once in the sky,that splendor might resemblethe splendor of that great Being. ॥११- १२॥
There, gathered in one place,the Pandava then beheld the whole universe,divided into its many forms,within the body of the God of gods. ॥११- १३॥
Then Dhananjaya, overcome with wonder,his hair standing on end,bowed his head before the Godand, with palms joined, spoke. ॥११- १४॥
Arjuna said
I see all the gods within your body, O God,and all the hosts of every kind of being;Brahma, the lord, seated upon the lotus,all the seers, and the divine serpents. ॥११- १५॥
I see you with countless arms, bellies,mouths, and eyes—your infinite form extending everywhere.I see no end, no middle, and no beginning in you,O Lord of the Universe, O Universal Form. ॥११- १६॥
I see you crowned, bearing mace and discus,a mass of radiance blazing on every side,hard to behold, shining all aroundlike burning fire and sun,immeasurable. ॥११- १७॥
You are the Imperishable, the supreme reality to be known;you are the ultimate ground of this universe.You are the immutable guardian of the eternal dharma;you are the everlasting Person—so I hold. ॥११- १८॥
I see you without beginning, middle, or end,of infinite power and countless arms,with moon and sun as your eyes,your mouths like blazing sacrificial fires,scorching this whole universe with your own radiance. ॥११- १९॥
The space between heaven and earthand all the directions are filled by you alone.Seeing this wondrous and terrible form of yours,the three worlds tremble, O Great One. ॥११- २०॥
For these hosts of gods enter into you;some, afraid, praise you with joined palms.The hosts of great seers and perfected beings,crying “May there be peace,”praise you with abundant hymns. ॥११- २१॥
The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, and Sadhyas,the Vishvedevas, Ashvins, Maruts, and ancestral spirits,the hosts of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, and Siddhas—all gaze upon you in wonder. ॥११- २२॥
Seeing your immense formwith its many mouths and eyes,O Mighty-Armed One,its many arms, thighs, and feet,its many bellies and many fearsome fangs,the worlds tremble—and so do I. ॥११- २३॥
Seeing you touch the sky, ablaze in many colors,your mouths gaping,your vast eyes burning,my inmost self trembles;I find neither steadiness nor peace, O Vishnu. ॥११- २४॥
At the very sight of your mouths,fearsome with fangs,resembling the fires of Time,I no longer know the directionsand find no refuge.Be gracious, O Lord of gods,O Abode of the Universe. ॥११- २५॥
All these sons of Dhritarashtraenter into you,together with the hosts of earthly kings;Bhishma, Drona, and that son of the charioteer,along with the foremost warriors on our side. ॥११- २६॥
They rush headlong into your mouths,terrible and fearsome with fangs.Some are seen caught between your teeth,their heads crushed to powder. ॥११- २७॥
As the many rushing currents of riversflow swiftly toward the sea,so these heroes of the human worldenter your fiercely blazing mouths. ॥११- २८॥
As moths, with gathering speed,rush into a blazing fire to their destruction,so too the worlds, with gathering speed,rush into your mouths to their destruction. ॥११- २९॥
Licking, devouring all the worldson every side with your flaming mouths,you fill the whole universe with your radiance;your terrible splendors scorch it, O Vishnu. ॥११- ३०॥
Tell me who you are in this terrible form.Homage to you, highest of gods; be gracious.I long to know you, the Primal One,for I do not understand your purpose. ॥११- ३१॥
The Blessed Lord said
I am Time, grown vast, the destroyer of worlds,now engaged here in annihilating these peoples.Even without you, none of the warriorsarrayed in the opposing ranks will remain. ॥११- ३२॥
Therefore arise and win glory;conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom.They have already been slain by me alone;be merely the instrument, O Ambidextrous Archer. ॥११- ३३॥
Drona and Bhishma, Jayadratha and Karna,and the other heroic warriors—strike down those already slain by me.Do not falter. Fight!You will conquer your foes in battle. ॥११- ३४॥
Sanjaya said
Hearing these words of Keshava,the crowned warrior, trembling, joined his palms.Bowing low, he addressed Krishna once again,his voice faltering, overwhelmed with fear,and bowed before him. ॥११- ३५॥
Arjuna said
Rightly, O Hrishikesha, at the proclamation of your glory,the world rejoices and is drawn to you.The terrified rakshasas flee in every direction,and all the hosts of perfected beings bow before you. ॥११- ३६॥
And why should they not bow to you, O Great One,greater even than Brahma, the primal creator?O Infinite One, Lord of gods, Abode of the Universe,you are the Imperishable,that which is beyond being and nonbeing. ॥११- ३७॥
You are the primal God, the primeval Person;you are the ultimate ground of this universe.You are the knower and that which is to be known,the supreme abode.By you the universe is pervaded,O Infinite Form. ॥११- ३८॥
You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, and the Moon;you are Prajapati and the great-grandfather.Homage, homage to you a thousand times;again and yet again, homage, homage to you. ॥११- ३९॥
Homage to you from before and from behind;homage to you from every side, O All.Infinite in power, boundless in might,you encompass everything;therefore you are everything. ॥११- ४०॥
Thinking of you as my friend,whatever I have rashly said—“O Krishna! O Yadava! O friend!”—not knowing this greatness of yours,whether from carelessness or affection; ॥११- ४१॥
and however I may have treated you without due honor,in jest, while at play, resting, sitting, or sharing a meal,whether alone, O Achyuta, or in the presence of others—for all this I ask forgiveness from you, the Immeasurable. ॥११- ४२॥
You are the father of this world,of all that moves and does not move;you are its worshipful teacher, greater than all.None is equal to you—how then could any be greater,even in the three worlds,O Power beyond compare? ॥११- ४३॥
Therefore, bowing down and prostrating my body,I seek the grace of you, the Lord worthy of praise.As a father bears with a son,as a friend with a friend,as a beloved with the beloved,so, O God, may you bear with me. ॥११- ४४॥
I rejoice at seeing what has never been seen before,yet my mind trembles with fear.Show me that former form of yours, O God.Be gracious, O Lord of gods,O Abode of the Universe. ॥११- ४५॥
I long to see you as before,crowned, bearing mace, with discus in hand.Take that very four-armed form,O Thousand-Armed One,O Form of the Universe. ॥११- ४६॥
The Blessed Lord said
In my grace toward you, O Arjuna,through my own yoga I have revealedthis supreme form of mine—radiant, universal, infinite, primal—which no one before you has ever seen. ॥११- ४७॥
Not through the Vedas, sacrifices, or study,nor through gifts, rites, or severe austerities,can I be seen in such a form in the human worldby anyone but you, O foremost of the Kurus. ॥११- ४८॥
Let no fear be yours, nor bewilderment,at seeing this terrible form of mine.Free from fear, your heart made glad,behold once more this former form of mine. ॥११- ४९॥
Sanjaya said
Having spoken thus to Arjuna,Vasudeva revealed his own form once more.The Great One comforted the terrified warrior,again assuming his gentle appearance. ॥११- ५०॥
Arjuna said
Seeing this gentle human form of yours,O Janardana,I have now regained my composure;my awareness has returned, and I am myself again. ॥११- ५१॥
The Blessed Lord said
This form of mine that you have seenis exceedingly difficult to behold.Even the gods forever longfor a vision of this form. ॥११- ५२॥
Neither through the Vedas nor through austerity,neither through giving nor through sacrifice,can I be seen in the waythat you have seen me. ॥११- ५३॥
But through undivided devotion, O Arjuna,I can be known in this form,truly seen,and entered into,O Scorcher of Foes. ॥११- ५४॥
One who does my work, holds me as supreme,is devoted to me, and is free from attachment,who bears enmity toward no being—that one comes to me, O Pandava. ॥११- ५५॥
Om Tat Sat. Thus, in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, in the knowledge of Brahman, in the scripture of yoga, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the eleventh chapter, entitled “The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form.” ॥ ११ ॥
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from all 18 Sanskrit chapters and 700 verses.
Om
Salutations to the Supreme Self
Arjuna said
For my benefit, you have spoken the supreme secret teaching called knowledge of the Self.Through those words, this delusion of mine has vanished. ॥११- १॥
For I have heard from you in detail of the arising and passing away of beings,and also of your imperishable greatness, O Lotus-Eyed One. ॥११- २॥
It is just as you have described yourself, O Supreme Lord.I wish to see your sovereign form, O Supreme Person. ॥११- ३॥
If you think that I am able to see it, O Lord,then, O Lord of Yoga, show me your imperishable Self. ॥११- ४॥
The Blessed Lord said
Behold my forms, Partha, in their hundreds and thousands,divine, of many kinds, and of many colors and shapes. ॥११- ५॥
Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvins, and the Maruts.Behold many wonders never seen before, O Bharata. ॥११- ६॥
Behold here and now the entire moving and unmoving universe,gathered together in one place within my body, Gudakesha, and whatever else you wish to see. ॥११- ७॥
But you cannot see me with these ordinary eyes of yours.I give you divine sight. Behold my sovereign Yoga. ॥११- ८॥
Sanjaya said
Having spoken in this way, O King, Hari, the great Lord of Yoga,showed Partha his supreme sovereign form. ॥११- ९॥
It had countless mouths and eyes and countless wondrous appearances,countless divine ornaments and countless raised divine weapons. ॥११- १०॥
It wore divine garlands and garments and was anointed with divine fragrances.It was the infinite God, filled with every wonder, with faces turned in every direction. ॥११- ११॥
If the light of a thousand sunswere to rise at once in the sky,that light might resemblethe radiance of that Great Being. ॥११- १२॥
Then the Pandava saw the entire universe,divided into its many parts yet gathered in one place,within the bodyof the God of gods. ॥११- १३॥
Then Dhananjaya, filled with wonder,his hair standing on end,bowed his head to God, joined his palms,and spoke. ॥११- १४॥
Arjuna said
O God, within your body I see all the gods,and also all the different hosts of beings.I see Brahma, the lord seated upon the lotus,all the seers, and the divine serpents. ॥११- १५॥
I see you with countless arms, bellies, mouths, and eyes,your infinite form extending everywhere.I see no end, no middle,and no beginning to you, O Lord of the Universe, O Universal Form. ॥११- १६॥
I see you crowned, bearing a mace and a discus,a mass of splendor shining in every direction.All around, you are difficult to look upon,blazing like burning fire and the sun, immeasurable. ॥११- १७॥
You are the imperishable, the supreme reality to be known.You are the highest resting place of this universe.You are the deathless guardian of the eternal Dharma.I understand you to be the everlasting Person. ॥११- १८॥
I see you without beginning, middle, or end,with infinite power and countless arms,with the moon and sun as your eyes and blazing fire as your mouth,heating this whole universe with your own radiance. ॥११- १९॥
You alone fill the space between heaven and earthand all the directions.Seeing this wondrous and terrible form of yours,the three worlds tremble in fear, O Great One. ॥११- २०॥
These hosts of gods are entering you.Some, terrified, praise you with joined palms.The hosts of great seers and perfected beings cry, “May all be well!”and praise you with abundant hymns. ॥११- २१॥
The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas,Vishvadevas, the two Ashvins, Maruts, and Ushmapas,and the hosts of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, and Siddhasall gaze upon you in amazement. ॥११- २२॥
Seeing your immense form, with its many mouths and eyes,many arms, thighs, and feet, O Mighty-Armed One,many bellies, and many terrifying tusks,the worlds tremble, and so do I. ॥११- २३॥
Seeing you touching the sky, blazing in many colors,with gaping mouths and huge, burning eyes,my innermost self trembles.I find neither courage nor peace, O Vishnu. ॥११- २४॥
Simply seeing your mouths, terrifying with their tusksand resembling the fires of Time,I no longer know the directions and can find no safety.Be gracious, O Lord of gods, O Abode of the Universe. ॥११- २५॥
All these sons of Dhritarashtraare entering you together with the hosts of earthly kings,as are Bhishma, Drona, and that son of the charioteer,along with the foremost warriors on our side. ॥११- २६॥
They rush into your mouths,terrible and fearsome with their tusks.Some are seen caught between your teeth,their heads crushed to powder. ॥११- २७॥
As the many rushing currents of riversflow swiftly toward the ocean,so these heroes of the human worldenter your fiercely blazing mouths. ॥११- २८॥
As moths, with increasing speed, flyinto a blazing fire for their destruction,so too, with increasing speed, these worldsenter your mouths for their destruction. ॥११- २९॥
Licking your lips and devouring all the worldsfrom every side with your blazing mouths,you fill the entire universe with your radiance.Your fierce rays scorch it, O Vishnu. ॥११- ३०॥
Tell me who you are in this terrible form.Salutations to you, O Highest God. Be gracious.I wish to know you, the Primal One,for I do not understand your purpose. ॥११- ३१॥
The Blessed Lord said
I am Time, grown mighty, the destroyer of worlds,now engaged in wiping out these peoples.Even without you, none of the warriorsarrayed in the opposing armies will remain. ॥११- ३२॥
Therefore arise, win glory,conquer your enemies, and enjoy a prosperous kingdom.They have already been killed by me.Be merely the instrument, O Savyasachin. ॥११- ३३॥
Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna,and the other heroic warriors have already been killed by me.Strike them down. Do not be distressed.Fight, and you will conquer your enemies in battle. ॥११- ३४॥
Sanjaya said
Hearing these words of Keshava,the crowned Arjuna joined his palms and trembled.Bowing before Krishna, he spoke again,his voice faltering, terrified, and bending low. ॥११- ३५॥
Arjuna said
Rightly, Hrishikesha, the world rejoicesand grows devoted when your glory is proclaimed.The terrified Rakshasas flee in every direction,and all the hosts of Siddhas bow before you. ॥११- ३६॥
And why should they not bow to you, O Great One,who are greater even than Brahma, the primal creator?O Infinite One, Lord of gods, Abode of the Universe,you are the imperishable, beyond both being and nonbeing. ॥११- ३७॥
You are the first God, the ancient Person.You are the supreme resting place of this universe.You are the knower, what is to be known, and the highest abode.You pervade the universe, O Infinite Form. ॥११- ३८॥
You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, and the Moon.You are Prajapati and the great-grandfather.Salutations, a thousand salutations to you!Again and yet again, salutations, salutations to you! ॥११- ३९॥
Salutations to you from the front and from behind!Salutations to you from every side, O All!Your power is infinite and your might immeasurable.You encompass everything, and therefore you are everything. ॥११- ४०॥
Thinking of you as my friend, I rashly addressed you:“O Krishna! O Yadava! O friend!”I did not know this greatness of yoursand spoke through carelessness or affection. ॥११- ४१॥
If I treated you disrespectfully in jest,while playing, resting, sitting, or eating,whether alone with you or in the presence of others,I ask your forgiveness for all this, O Immeasurable One. ॥११- ४२॥
You are the father of this moving and unmoving world.You are its object of worship and its greatest teacher.No one is equal to you; how then could anyone be greater,even in the three worlds, O One of unequaled power? ॥११- ४३॥
Therefore, bowing down and laying my body before you,I seek the grace of you, the worshipful Lord.As a father bears with his son, a friend with a friend,and a beloved with the beloved, so should you bear with me, O God. ॥११- ४४॥
I rejoice at seeing what has never been seen before,yet my mind trembles with fear.Show me that former form of yours, O God.Be gracious, O Lord of gods, O Abode of the Universe. ॥११- ४५॥
I wish to see you as before,crowned, bearing the mace, with the discus in your hand.Take that very four-armed form,O Thousand-Armed One, O Form of the Universe. ॥११- ४६॥
The Blessed Lord said
Because I am gracious to you, Arjuna,I have shown you through my own Yoga this supreme form of mine,radiant, universal, infinite, and primal,which no one before you has ever seen. ॥११- ४७॥
Not through the Vedas, sacrifices, study, gifts,rituals, or fierce austeritiescan I be seen in this form in the human worldby anyone other than you, O foremost of the Kurus. ॥११- ४८॥
Do not be distressed or bewilderedat seeing this terrible form of mine.Free from fear and with a joyful mind,look once again upon that former form of mine. ॥११- ४९॥
Sanjaya said
Having spoken in this way to Arjuna,Vasudeva again showed him his own familiar form.The Great One took on his gentle appearance once moreand comforted the frightened Arjuna. ॥११- ५०॥
Arjuna said
Seeing this gentle human form of yours, Janardana,I have now regained my composure;my awareness has returned, and I am myself again. ॥११- ५१॥
The Blessed Lord said
This form of mine that you have seen is extremely difficult to behold.Even the gods constantly long to see this form. ॥११- ५२॥
Neither through the Vedas, nor through austerity,nor through giving, nor through worshipcan I be seen in the waythat you have seen me. ॥११- ५३॥
But through undivided devotion, Arjuna,I can be known in this form, truly seen,and entered into,O Scorcher of Foes. ॥११- ५४॥
The one who does my work, regards me as supreme,is devoted to me, is free from attachment,and bears no hostility toward any being—that person comes to me, O Pandava. ॥११- ५५॥
Om Tat Sat. Thus, in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, in the knowledge of Brahman, in the teaching of Yoga, in the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the eleventh chapter, called “The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form.” ॥ ११ ॥