Chapter 11 · 55 verses

विश्वरूपदर्शनयोग

Viśvarūpa Darśana Yoga

The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form

Granted divine sight, Arjuna beholds Krishna's overwhelming universal form (Vishvarupa) containing all worlds, gods and time itself. Awestruck and terrified, he prays for the gentle four-armed form to return.

Theme: The cosmic form of God revealed

All Shlokas (Shloka 1–55)

55 verses

11.1
अर्जुन उवाचArjuna said, By this explanation of the highest secret concerning the Self which Thou hast spoken, for the sake of blessing me, my delusion has been dispelled.
11.2
भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया।The origin and destruction of beings have been heard in detail from You, O lotus-eyed Lord, and also Your inexhaustible greatness.
11.3
एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर।Now, O Supreme Lord, as Thou hast thus described Thyself, O Supreme Person, I wish to behold Thy divine form.
11.4
मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो।If Thou, O Lord, thinkest it possible for me to see it, do Thou, then, O Lord of the Yogis, show me Thy imperishable Self.
11.5
श्री भगवानुवाचThe Blessed Lord said, "Behold, O Arjuna, forms of Mine, by the hundreds and thousands, of different sorts, divine, and of various colors and shapes."
11.6
पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्िवनौ मरुतस्तथा।Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Asvins, and the Maruts; behold many wonders never before seen, O Arjuna.
11.7
इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम्।Now, behold, O Arjuna, in this My body, the entire universe centered in one, including the moving and the unmoving, and whatever else you desire to see.
11.8
न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा।But you are not able to behold Me with these your own eyes; I give you the divine eye; behold My lordly Yoga.
11.9
सञ्जय उवाचSanjaya said, Having thus spoken, O king, the great Lord of Yoga, Hari (Krishna), showed Arjuna His supreme form as the Lord.
11.10
अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम्।With numerous mouths and eyes, with numerous wondrous sights, with numerous divine adornments, with numerous divine weapons uplifted, such a form He showed.
11.11
दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्।Wearing divine garlands and apparel, anointed with divine unguents, the all-wonderful, resplendent Being is endless with faces on all sides.
11.12
दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता।If the splendour of a thousand suns were to blaze out simultaneously in the sky, that would be the splendour of that mighty being.
11.13
तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा।There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna then saw the entire universe resting in one, with its myriad of divisions.
11.14
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः।Then, Arjuna, filled with wonder and his hair standing on end, bowed his head to the God and spoke with palms joined.
11.15
अर्जुन उवाचArjuna said, "O God, I see all the gods in Your body, as well as hosts of various classes of beings, Brahma the Lord seated on the lotus, all the sages, and the celestial serpents."
11.16
अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रंI see You with boundless form on every side, with many arms, stomachs, mouths, and eyes; neither the end nor the middle nor the beginning do I see, O Lord of the Universe, O Cosmic Form.
11.17
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं चI see You with the diadem, club, and discus, a mass of radiance shining everywhere, very hard to look at, blazing all around like a burning fire and the sun, and immeasurable.
11.18
त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यंYou are the Imperishable, the Supreme Being, worthy of being known. You are the great treasure-house of this universe; You are the imperishable protector of the eternal Dharma; You are the Primal Person, I believe.
11.19
अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्यI see You without beginning, middle, or end, infinite in power, with endless arms, the sun and moon as Your eyes, the burning fire Your mouth, heating the entire universe with Your radiance.
11.20
द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हिThis space between the earth and the heavens, and all the quarters, is filled by You alone; having seen this, Your wonderful and terrible form, the three worlds are trembling with fear, O great-souled Being.
11.21
अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घाः विशन्तिVerily, these hosts of gods enter into Thee; some extol Thee with joined palms in fear, saying, 'May it be well!' Bands of great sages and perfected ones praise Thee with complete hymns.
11.22
रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्याThe Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Visvedevas, the two Asvins, Maruts, the Manus, and the hosts of celestial singers, Yakshas, demons, and the perfected ones, all look upon Thee with great amazement.
11.23
रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रंHaving seen Your immeasurable form with many mouths and eyes, O mighty-armed one, with many arms, thighs, and feet, with many stomachs and fearsome with many teeth, the worlds are terrified, and so am I.
11.24
नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णंOn seeing Thee, touching the sky, shining in many colors, with mouths wide open, with large fiery eyes, I am terrified at heart and find neither courage nor peace, O Vishnu.
11.25
दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानिHaving seen Thy mouths fearful with teeth blazing like the fires of cosmic dissolution, I know not the four quarters, nor do I find peace. Have mercy, O Lord of the gods, O abode of the universe.
11.26
अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राःAll the sons of Dhritarashtra, along with the hosts of kings of the earth, Bhishma, Drona, and Karna, as well as the chief among our warriors.
11.27
वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्तिSome hurry into Your mouths with their terrible teeth, fearful to behold. Some are found stuck in the gaps between the teeth, their heads crushed to powder.
11.28
यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाःVerily, just as many torrents of rivers flow towards the ocean, so too these heroes in the world of men enter Thy flaming mouths.
11.29
यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गाAs moths hurriedly rush into a blazing fire, leading to their own destruction, so too these creatures hurry into Your mouths, leading to their own destruction.
11.30
लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ताThou lickest up, devouring all the worlds on every side with Thy flaming mouths. Thy fierce rays, filling the whole world with radiance, burn, O Vishnu!
11.31
आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपोTell me, who you are, so fierce of form. I offer my salutations to you, O God Supreme; have mercy on me. I desire to know you, the original Being. I do not indeed know your workings.
11.32
श्री भगवानुवाचThe Blessed Lord said, "I am the full-grown, world-destroying Time, now engaged in destroying the worlds. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the hostile armies will live."
11.33
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्वTherefore, stand up and obtain fame. Conquer the enemies and enjoy the unparalleled kingdom. Verily, by Me they have already been slain; be thou a mere instrument, O Arjuna.
11.34
द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं चDrona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and other brave warriors have already been slain by Me; do not be distressed with fear; fight and you shall conquer your enemies in battle.
11.35
सञ्जय उवाचSanjaya said, Having heard that speech of Lord Krishna, Arjuna, with joined palms, trembling, prostrated himself, again addressing Krishna in a choked voice, bowing down, overwhelmed with fear.
11.36
अर्जुन उवाचArjuna said, "It is fitting, O Krishna, that the world delights and rejoices in Your praise; demons fly in fear in all directions and the hosts of the perfected ones bow to You."
11.37
कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्And why should they not, O great Soul, bow to Thee Who art greater than all else, the primal cause even of the Creator (Brahma), O Infinite Being, O Lord of the gods, O Abode of the universe; Thou art the imperishable, the Being, the non-being, and That which is supreme—that which is beyond the Being and the non-being.
11.38
त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराणYou are the primal God, the ancient Purusha, the supreme refuge of this universe, the knower, the knowable, and the supreme Abode. Through You, the universe is pervaded, O Being of infinite forms.
11.39
वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कःYou are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, the Creator, and the great-grandfather. I offer my salutations to You a thousand times, and again I offer my salutations to You.
11.40
नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्तेSalutations to You in front and behind! Salutations to You on every side! O All! You, infinite in power and prowess, pervade all; therefore You are all.
11.41
सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तंWhatever I have presumptuously said from carelessness or love, addressing You as O Krishna! O Yadava! O Friend! regarding You merely as a friend, unknowing of Your greatness.
11.42
यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसिIn whatever way I may have insulted You for the sake of fun, while at play, reposing, sitting, or at meals, when alone (with You), O Krishna, or in company, that I implore You, immeasurable one, to forgive.
11.43
पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्यThou art the Father of this world, both moving and unmoving. Thou art to be adored by this world; Thou, the greatest Guru; for none exists who is equal to Thee; how then could there be another superior to Thee in the three worlds, O Being of unrivaled power?
11.44
तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायंTherefore, bowing down and prostrating my body, I crave Thy forgiveness, O adorable Lord. As a father forgives his son, a friend his dear friend, a lover his beloved, even so may Thou forgive me, O God.
11.45
अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वाI am delighted, having seen something never seen before; yet my mind is distressed with fear. Show me that form only, O God; have mercy, O God of gods, O Abode of the universe.
11.46
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्तI desire to see You as before, crowned, bearing a mace, with the discus in hand, in Your former form only, having four arms, O thousand-armed, Cosmic Being.
11.47
श्री भगवानुवाचThe Blessed Lord said, "O Arjuna, this Cosmic Form has graciously been shown to you by Me through My own Yogic power. It is full of splendour, primeval, and infinite; this Cosmic Form of Mine has never been seen before by anyone other than you."
11.48
न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानैNeither by the study of the Vedas, nor by gifts, nor by sacrifices, nor by severe austerities, can I be seen in this form in the world of men by any other than yourself, O great hero of the Kurus (Arjuna).
11.49
मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावोDo not be afraid, nor be bewildered on seeing such a terrible form of Mine; with your fear dispelled and with a gladdened heart, now behold again this former form of Mine.
11.50
सञ्जय उवाचSanjaya said, Having thus spoken to Arjuna, Krishna again showed His own form. The great Soul, assuming His gentle form, then consoled Arjuna, who was terrified.
11.51
अर्जुन उवाचArjuna said, "Having seen this Thy gentle human form, O Krishna, now I am composed and have been restored to my own nature."
11.52
श्री भगवानुवाचThe Blessed Lord said, "It is very hard indeed to see this form of Mine which thou hast seen; even the gods are ever longing to behold it."
11.53
नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया।Neither by the Vedas, nor by austerity, nor by gift, nor by sacrifice can I be seen in this form as thou hast seen Me so easily.
11.54
भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्यमहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन।But by single-minded devotion, I can be known, seen, and entered into in reality, O Arjuna.
11.55
मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः।He who does all actions for Me, who regards Me as the Supreme, who is devoted to Me, who is free from attachment, who bears no enmity towards any creature, he comes to Me, O Arjuna.