What Chapter 11 teaches
The eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is Vishwaroopa Darshana Yoga. In this chapter, Arjuna requests Krishna to reveal His Universal Cosmic Form that encompasses all the universes, the entire existence. Arjuna is granted divine vision to be able to see the entirety of creation in the body of the Supreme Lord Krishna.
Original Text
Verses & Meaning
अर्जुन उवाच। मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम्। यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम॥
arjuna uvāca madanugrahāya paramaṃ guhyamadhyātmasaṃjñitam yattvayoktaṃ vacastena moho.ayaṃ vigato mama
Arjuna said By this word (explanation) of the highest secret concerning the Self which Thou hast spoken, for the sake of blessing me, my delusion is gone.
भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया। त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम्॥
bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṃ śrutau vistaraśo mayā tvattaḥ kamalapatrākṣa māhātmyamapi cāvyayam
The origin and the destruction of beings verily have been heard by me in detail from Thee, O lotus-eyed Lord, and also Thy inexhaustible greatness.
एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर। द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम॥
evametadyathāttha tvamātmānaṃ parameśvara draṣṭumicchāmi te rūpamaiśvaraṃ puruṣottama
(Now) O Supreme Lord, as Thou hast thus described Thyself, O Supreme Person, I wish to see Thy divine form.
मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो। योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम्॥
manyase yadi tacchakyaṃ mayā draṣṭumiti prabho yogeśvara tato me tvaṃ darśayātmānamavyayam
If Thou, O Lord, thinkest it possible for me to see it, do Thou, then, O Lord of the Yogins, show me Thy imperishable Self.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च॥
śrībhagavānuvāca paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi śataśo.atha sahasraśaḥ nānāvidhāni divyāni nānāvarṇākṛtīni ca
The Blessed Lord said Behold, O Arjuna, forms of Mine, by the hundreds and thousands, of different sorts, divine, and of various colours and shapes.
पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा। बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत॥
paśyādityānvasūnrudrānaśvinau marutastathā bahūnyadṛṣṭapūrvāṇi paśyāścaryāṇi bhārata
Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Asvins and also the Maruts; behold many wonders never seen before, O Arjuna.
इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम्। मम देहे गुडाकेश यच्चान्यद् द्रष्टुमिच्छसि॥
ihaikasthaṃ jagatkṛtsnaṃ paśyādya sacarācaram mama dehe guḍākeśa yaccānyad draṣṭumicchasi
Now behold, O Arjuna, in this, My body, the whole universe centred in one including the moving and the unmoving and whatever else thou desirest to see.
न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा। दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्॥
na tu māṃ śakyase draṣṭumanenaiva svacakṣuṣā divyaṃ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya me yogamaiśvaram
But thou art not able to behold Me with these thine own eyes; I give thee the divine eye; behold My lordly Yoga.
सञ्जय उवाच। एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः। दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम्॥
sañjaya uvāca evamuktvā tato rājanmahāyogeśvaro hariḥ darśayāmāsa pārthāya paramaṃ rūpamaiśvaram
Sanjaya said Having thus spoken, O king, the great Lord of Yoga, hari (Krishna), showed to Arjuna His supreme form as the Lord.
अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम्। अनेकदिव्याभरणं दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम्॥
anekavaktranayanamanekādbhutadarśanam anekadivyābharaṇaṃ divyānekodyatāyudham
With numerous mouths and eyes, with numerous wonderful sights, with numerous divine ornaments, with numerous divine weapons uplifted (such a form He showed).
दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्। सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवमनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम्॥
divyamālyāmbaradharaṃ divyagandhānulepanam sarvāścaryamayaṃ devamanantaṃ viśvatomukham
Wearing divine garlands (necklaces) and apparel, anointed with divine unguents, the all-wonderful, resplendent (Being) endless with faces on all sides.
दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता। यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः॥
divi sūryasahasrasya bhavedyugapadutthitā yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syādbhāsastasya mahātmanaḥ
If the splendour of a thousand suns were to blaze out at once (simultaneously) in the sky, that would be the splendour of that mighty Being (great Soul).
तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा। अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा॥
tatraikasthaṃ jagatkṛtsnaṃ pravibhaktamanekadhā apaśyaddevadevasya śarīre pāṇḍavastadā
There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna then saw the whole universe resting in one, with its many groups.
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः। प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत॥
tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo hṛṣṭaromā dhanañjayaḥ praṇamya śirasā devaṃ kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata
Then, Arjuna, filled with wonder and with his hair standing on end, bowed down his head to the God and spoke with joined palms.
अर्जुन उवाच। पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान्। ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थ- मृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान्॥
arjuna uvāca paśyāmi devāṃstava deva dehe sarvāṃstathā bhūtaviśeṣasaṅghān brahmāṇamīśaṃ kamalāsanasthaṃ ṛṣīṃśca sarvānuragāṃśca divyān
Arjuna said I see all the gods, O God, in Thy body, and (also) hosts of various classes of beings, Brahma, the Lord, seated on the lotus, all the sages and the celestial serpents.
अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम्। नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप॥
anekabāhūdaravaktranetraṃ paśyāmi tvāṃ sarvato.anantarūpam nāntaṃ na madhyaṃ na punastavādiṃ paśyāmi viśveśvara viśvarūpa
I see Thee of boundless form on every side with many arms, stomachs, mouths and eyes: neither the end nor the middle nor also the beginning do I see, O Lord of the universe, O Cosmic Form.
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च तेजोराशिं सर्वतो दीप्तिमन्तम्। पश्यामि त्वां दुर्निरीक्ष्यं समन्ताद् दीप्तानलार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम्॥
kirīṭinaṃ gadinaṃ cakriṇaṃ ca tejorāśiṃ sarvato dīptimantam paśyāmi tvāṃ durnirīkṣyaṃ samantād dīptānalārkadyutimaprameyam
I see Thee with the diadem, the club and the discus, a mass of radiance shining everywhere, very hard to look at, blazing all round like burning fire and the sun, and immeasurable.
त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्। त्वमव्ययः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे॥
tvamakṣaraṃ paramaṃ veditavyaṃ tvamasya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam tvamavyayaḥ śāśvatadharmagoptā sanātanastvaṃ puruṣo mato me
Thou art the Imperishable, the Supreme Being, worthy to be known. Thou art the great treasure-house of this universe; Thou art the imperishable protector of the eternal Dhrama; Thou art the Primal Person, I deem.
अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य- मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्। पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रं स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम्॥
anādimadhyāntamanantavīryam anantabāhuṃ śaśisūryanetram paśyāmi tvāṃ dīptahutāśavaktraṃ svatejasā viśvamidaṃ tapantam
I see Thee without beginning, middle or end, infinite in power, of endless arms, the sun and the moon being Thy eyes, the burning fire Thy mouth, heating the whole universe with Thy radiance.
द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः। दृष्ट्वाद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन्॥
dyāvāpṛthivyoridamantaraṃ hi vyāptaṃ tvayaikena diśaśca sarvāḥ dṛṣṭvādbhutaṃ rūpamugraṃ tavedaṃ lokatrayaṃ pravyathitaṃ mahātman
This space between the earth and the heaven and all the arters are filled by Thee alone; having seen this, Thy wonderful and teriible form, the three worlds are trembling with fear, O great-souled Being.
अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति। स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः॥
amī hi tvāṃ surasaṅghā viśanti kecidbhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti svastītyuktvā maharṣisiddhasaṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṃ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ
Verily, into Thee enter these hosts of gods; some extol Thee in fear with joined palms; saying 'may it be well', bands of great sages and perfected ones praise Thee with hymns complete.
रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या विश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च। गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घा वीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे॥
rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā viśve.aśvinau marutaścoṣmapāśca gandharvayakṣāsurasiddhasaṅghā vīkṣante tvāṃ vismitāścaiva sarve
The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Visvedevas, the two Asvins, Maruts, the manes and the hosts of celestial singers, Yakshas, demons and the perfected ones, are all looking at Thee, in great amazement.
रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम्। बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालं दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाहम्॥
rūpaṃ mahatte bahuvaktranetraṃ mahābāho bahubāhūrupādam bahūdaraṃ bahudaṃṣṭrākarālaṃ dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitāstathāham
Having seen Thy immeasurable form with many mouths and eyes, O mighty-armed, with many arms, thighs and feet, with many stomachs and fearful with many teeth the worlds are terrified and so am I.
नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम्। दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो॥
nabhaḥspṛśaṃ dīptamanekavarṇaṃ vyāttānanaṃ dīptaviśālanetram dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṃ pravyathitāntarātmā dhṛtiṃ na vindāmi śamaṃ ca viṣṇo
On seeing Thee (the Cosmic Form) touching the sky, shining in many colours, with mouths wide open, with large fiery eyes, I am terrified at heart and find neither courage nor peace, O Vishnu.
दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि। दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास॥
daṃṣṭrākarālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvaiva kālānalasannibhāni diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa
Having seen Thy mouths fearful with teeth (blazing) like the fires of cosmic dissolution, I know not the four arters, nor do I find peace. Have mercy, O Lord of the gods, O abode of the universe.
अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः। भीष्मो द्रोणः सूतपुत्रस्तथासौ सहास्मदीयैरपि योधमुख्यैः॥
amī ca tvāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ sarve sahaivāvanipālasaṅghaiḥ bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sūtaputrastathāsau sahāsmadīyairapi yodhamukhyaiḥ
All the sons of Dhritarashtra, with the hosts of kings of the earth, Bhishma, Drona and Karna, with the chief among our warriors.
वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि। केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु सन्दृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः॥
vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti daṃṣṭrākarālāni bhayānakāni kecidvilagnā daśanāntareṣu sandṛśyante cūrṇitairuttamāṅgaiḥ
Some hurriedly enter Thy mouths with their terrible teeth, fearful to behold. Some are found sticking in the gaps between the teeth with their heads crushed to powder.
यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः समुद्रमेवाभिमुखा द्रवन्ति। तथा तवामी नरलोकवीरा विशन्ति वक्त्राण्यभिविज्वलन्ति॥
yathā nadīnāṃ bahavo.ambuvegāḥ samudramevābhimukhā dravanti tathā tavāmī naralokavīrā viśanti vaktrāṇyabhivijvalanti
Verily, just as many torrents of rivers flow towards the ocean, even so these heroes in the world of men enter Thy flaming mouths.
यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः। तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोकास्- तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः॥
yathā pradīptaṃ jvalanaṃ pataṅgā viśanti nāśāya samṛddhavegāḥ tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokāsa- tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddhavegāḥ
As moths hurriedly rush into a blazing fire for (their own) destruction, so also these creatures hurriedly rush into Thy mouths for (their own) destruction.
लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ताल्- लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः। तेजोभिरापूर्य जगत्समग्रं भासस्तवोग्राः प्रतपन्ति विष्णो॥
lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāl- lokānsamagrānvadanairjvaladbhiḥ tejobhirāpūrya jagatsamagraṃ bhāsastavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo
Thou lickest up, devouring all the worlds on every side with Thy flaming mouths. Thy fierce rays, filling the whole world with radiance, are burning, O Vishnu!
आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद। विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम्॥
ākhyāhi me ko bhavānugrarūpo namo.astu te devavara prasīda vijñātumicchāmi bhavantamādyaṃ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim
Tell me, who Thou art, so fierce of form. Salutations to Thee, O God Supreme: have mercy. I desire to know Thee, the original Being. I know not indeed Thy working.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः। ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः॥
śrībhagavānuvāca kālo.asmi lokakṣayakṛtpravṛddho lokānsamāhartumiha pravṛttaḥ ṛte.api tvāṃ na bhaviṣyanti sarve ye.avasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ
The Blessed Lord said I am the full-grown world-destroying Time, now engaged in destroying the worlds. Even without thee, none of the warriors arrayed in the hostile armies shall live.
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्। मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन्॥
tasmāttvamuttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṃ samṛddham mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvameva nimittamātraṃ bhava savyasācin
Therefore, stand up and obtain fame. Coner the enemies and enjoy the unrivalled kingdom. Verily by Me have they been already slain; be thou a mere instrument, O Arjuna.
द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान्। मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान्॥
droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca karṇaṃ tathānyānapi yodhavīrān mayā hatāṃstvaṃ jahi mavyathiṣṭhā yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān
Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and other brave warriors these are already slain by Me: do thou kill; be not distressed with fear; fight and thou shalt coner thy enemies in battle.
सञ्जय उवाच। एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी। नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य॥
sañjaya uvāca etacchrutvā vacanaṃ keśavasya kṛtāñjalirvepamānaḥ kirīṭī namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṃ sagadgadaṃ bhītabhītaḥ praṇamya
Sanjaya said Having heard that speech of Lord Krishna, Arjuna, with joined palms, trembling, prostrating himself, again addressed Krishna, in a choked voice, bowing down, overwhelmed with fear.
अर्जुन उवाच। स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या जगत्प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च। रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्ति सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः॥
arjuna uvāca sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā jagatprahṛṣyatyanurajyate ca rakṣāṃsi bhītāni diśo dravanti sarve namasyanti ca siddhasaṅghāḥ
Arjuna said It is meet, O Krishna, that the world delights and rejoices in Thy praise; demons fly in fear to all arters and the hosts of the perfected ones bow to Thee.
कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन् गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे। अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत्॥
kasmācca te na nameranmahātman garīyase brahmaṇo.apyādikartre ananta deveśa jagannivāsa tvamakṣaraṃ sadasattatparaṃ yat
And 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 the supreme (that which is beyond the Being and the non-being).
त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराणस्- त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्। वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप॥
tvamādidevaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇasa- tvamasya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam vettāsi vedyaṃ ca paraṃ ca dhāma tvayā tataṃ viśvamanantarūpa
Thou art the primal God, the ancient Purusha, the supreme refuge of this universe, the knower, the knowable and the supreme Abode. By Thee is the universe pervaded, O Being of infinite forms.
वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च। नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वः पुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते॥
vāyuryamo.agnirvaruṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ prajāpatistvaṃ prapitāmahaśca namo namaste.astu sahasrakṛtvaḥ punaśca bhūyo.api namo namaste
Thou art Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, the Creator, and the great-grandfather. Salutations, salutations unto Thee, a thousand times, and again salutations, salutations unto Thee.
नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व। अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः॥
namaḥ purastādatha pṛṣṭhataste namo.astu te sarvata eva sarva anantavīryāmitavikramastvaṃ sarvaṃ samāpnoṣi tato.asi sarvaḥ
Salutations to Thee, in front and behind! Salutations to Thee on every side! O All!! Thou infinite in power and prowess, pervadest all; wherefore Thou art all.
सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति। अजानता महिमानं तवेदं मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि॥
sakheti matvā prasabhaṃ yaduktaṃ he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakheti ajānatā mahimānaṃ tavedaṃ mayā pramādātpraṇayena vāpi
Whatever I have presumptuously said from carelessness or love, addressing Thee as O Krishna! O Yadava! O Friend! regarding Thee merely as a friend, unknowing of this, Thy greatness.
यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु। एकोऽथवाप्यच्युत तत्समक्षं तत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम्॥
yaccāvahāsārthamasatkṛto.asi vihāraśayyāsanabhojaneṣu eko.athavāpyacyuta tatsamakṣaṃ tatkṣāmaye tvāmahamaprameyam
In whatever way I may have insulted Thee for the sake of fun, while at play, reposing, sitting or at meals, when alone (with Thee), O Krishna, or in company that I implore Thee, immeasurable one, to forgive.
पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान्। न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव॥
pitāsi lokasya carācarasya tvamasya pūjyaśca gururgarīyān na tvatsamo.astyabhyadhikaḥ kuto.anyo lokatraye.apyapratimaprabhāva
Thou art the Father of this world, moving and unmoving. Thou art to be adored by this world, Thou, the greatest Guru; (for) none there exists who is eal to Thee; how then could there be another superior to Thee in the three worlds, O Being of unealled power?
तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम्। पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम्॥
tasmātpraṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṃ prasādaye tvāmahamīśamīḍyam piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum
Therefore, bowing down, 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 shouldst Thou forgive me, O God.
अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे। तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपं प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास॥
adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ hṛṣito.asmi dṛṣṭvā bhayena ca pravyathitaṃ mano me tadeva me darśaya deva rūpaṃ prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa
I am delighted, having seen what has never been seen before; and yet my mind is distressed with fear. Show me that (previous) form only, O God; have mercy, O God of gods, O Abode of the universe.
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्तं इच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव। तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेन सहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते॥
kirīṭinaṃ gadinaṃ cakrahastaṃ icchāmi tvāṃ draṣṭumahaṃ tathaiva tenaiva rūpeṇa caturbhujena sahasrabāho bhava viśvamūrte
I desire to see Thee as before, crowned, bearing a mace, with the discus in hand, in Thy former form only, having four arms, O thousand-armed, Cosmic Form (Being).
श्रीभगवानुवाच। मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात्। तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम्॥
śrībhagavānuvāca mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṃ rūpaṃ paraṃ darśitamātmayogāt tejomayaṃ viśvamanantamādyaṃ yanme tvadanyena na dṛṣṭapūrvam
The Blessed Lord said O Arjuna, this Cosmic Form has graciously been shown to thee by Me by My own Yogic power; full of splendour, primeval, and infinite, this Cosmic Form of Mine has never been seen before by anyone other than thyself.
न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानैर्- न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः। एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर॥
na vedayajñādhyayanairna dānaira- na ca kriyābhirna tapobhirugraiḥ evaṃrūpaḥ śakya ahaṃ nṛloke draṣṭuṃ tvadanyena kurupravīra
Neither by the study of the Vedas and sacrifices, nor by gifts nor by rituals nor by severe austerities can I be seen in this form in the world of men by any other than thyself, O great hero of the Kurus (Arjuna).
मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम्। व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य॥
mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍhabhāvo dṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ ghoramīdṛṅmamedam vyapetabhīḥ prītamanāḥ punastvaṃ tadeva me rūpamidaṃ prapaśya
Be not afraid, nor bewildered on seeing such a teriible form of Mine as this; with thy fear dispelled and with a gladdened heart, now behold again this former form of Mine.
सञ्जय उवाच। इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः। आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनं भूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा॥
sañjaya uvāca ityarjunaṃ vāsudevastathoktvā svakaṃ rūpaṃ darśayāmāsa bhūyaḥ āśvāsayāmāsa ca bhītamenaṃ bhūtvā punaḥ saumyavapurmahātmā
Sanjaya said Having thus spoken to Arjuna, Krishna again showed His own form and the great Soul (Krishna), assuming His gentle form, consoled him (Arjuna) who was terrified.
अर्जुन उवाच। दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तव सौम्यं जनार्दन। इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः॥
arjuna uvāca dṛṣṭvedaṃ mānuṣaṃ rūpaṃ tava saumyaṃ janārdana idānīmasmi saṃvṛttaḥ sacetāḥ prakṛtiṃ gataḥ
Arjuna said Having seen this Thy gentle human form, O Krishna, now I am composed and am restored to my own nature.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम। देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः॥
śrībhagavānuvāca sudurdarśamidaṃ rūpaṃ dṛṣṭavānasi yanmama devā apyasya rūpasya nityaṃ darśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ
The Blessed Lord said Very hard indeed it is to see this form of Mine which thou hast seen. Even the gods are ever longing to behold it.
नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया। शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा॥
nāhaṃ vedairna tapasā na dānena na cejyayā śakya evaṃvidho draṣṭuṃ dṛṣṭavānasi māṃ yathā
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).
भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन। ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप॥
bhaktyā tvananyayā śakya ahamevaṃvidho.arjuna jñātuṃ draṣṭuṃ ca tattvena praveṣṭuṃ ca parantapa
But by single-minded devotion can I, of this Form, be known and seen in reality and also entered into, O Arjuna.
मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः। निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु यः स मामेति पाण्डव॥
matkarmakṛnmatparamo madbhaktaḥ saṅgavarjitaḥ nirvairaḥ sarvabhūteṣu yaḥ sa māmeti pāṇḍava
He who does all actions for Me, who looks upon Me as the Supreme, who is devoted to Me, who is free from attachment, who bears enmity towards no creature, he comes to Me, O Arjuna.
Quick guide
Before you begin
Bhav
Benefits devotees pray for
FAQ
Common questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 (Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga) about?
The eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is Vishwaroopa Darshana Yoga. In this chapter, Arjuna requests Krishna to reveal His Universal Cosmic Form that encompasses all the universes, the entire existence. Arjuna is granted divine vision to be able to see the entirety of creation in the body of the Supreme Lord Krishna.
How many verses are in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11?
Chapter 11 (Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga) has 55 verses. You can read every one above in Sanskrit, with IAST transliteration and its meaning in Hindi and English.
What does "Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga" mean?
"Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga" is the name of Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita; it means "Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God". Its 55 verses form part of Bhagwan Krishna's teaching to Arjuna on the field of Kurukshetra.
Bring the Gita's wisdom into your life
On Gita Jayanti at Shri Vishnupad Mandir, Gaya, a sankalp is offered in your naam-gotra for clarity of mind and right decision. Book the seva, or continue reading the Bhagavad Gita.







