CHAPTER 11: The Divine Vision
©2001, TheBhagavatGita.com

arjunah uvaca -- Arjuna said; mat-anugrahaya- just to show me favor; paramam -- supreme; guhyam -- confidential subject; adhyatma -- spiritual; samjnitam -- in the matter of; yat -- what; tvaya -- by You; uktam -- said; vacah -- words; tena -- by that; mohah -- illusion; ayam -- this; vigatah -- is removed; mama -- my.

Arjuna said: By my hearing the instructions You have kindly given me about these most confidential spiritual subjects, my illusion has now been dispelled.

bhava -- appearance; apyayau -- disappearance; hi -- certainly; bhutanam -- of all living entities; srutau -- have been heard; vistarasah -- in detail; maya -- by me; tvattah -- from You; kamala-patra-aksa -- O lotus-eyed one; mahatmyam -- glories; api -- also; ca -- and; avyayam -- inexhaustible.

O lotus-eyed one, I have heard from You in detail about the appearance and disappearance of every living entity and have realised Your inexhaustible glories.

evam -- thus; etat -- this; yatha -- as it is; attha -- have spoken; tvam -- You; atmanam -- Yourself; parama-isvara -- O Supreme Lord; drastum -- to see; icchami -- I wish; te -- Your; rupam -- form; aisvaram -- divine; purusa-uttama -- O best of personalities.

O greatest of all personalities, O supreme form, though I see You here before me in Your actual position, as You have described Yourself, I wish to see how You have entered into this cosmic manifestation. I want to see that form of Yours.

manyase -- You think; yadi -- if; tat -- that; sakyam -- is able; maya -- by me; drastum -- to be seen; iti -- thus; prabho -- O Lord; yoga-isvara -- O Lord of all mystic power; tatah -- then; me -- unto me; tvam -- You; darsaya -- show; atmanam -- Your Self; avyayam -- eternal.

If You think that I am able to behold Your cosmic form, O my Lord, O master of all mystic power, then kindly show me that unlimited universal Self.

sri-bhagavan uvaca -- The Supreme said; pasya- just see; me -- My; partha -- O son of Prtha; rupani -- forms; satasah -- hundreds; atha -- also; sahasrasah -- thousands; nana-vidhani -- variegated; divyani -- divine; nana -- variegated; varna -- colors; akrtini -- forms; ca -- also.

The Supreme said: My dear Arjuna, O son of Prtha, see now My opulences, hundreds of thousands of varied divine and multicolored forms.

pasya -- see; adityan -- the twelve sons of Aditi; vasun -- the eight Vasus; rudran -- the eleven forms of Rudra; asvinau -- the two Asvinis; marutah -- the forty-nine Maruts (demigods of the wind); tatha -- also; bahuni -- many; adrsta -- that you have not seen; purvani -- before; pasya -- see; ascaryani -- all the wonders; bharata -- O best of the Bharatas.

O best of the Bharatas, see here the different manifestations of Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Asvini-kumaras and all the other demigods. Behold the many wonderful things which no one has ever seen or heard of before.

iha -- in this; eka-stham -- in one place; jagat -- the universe; krtsnam -- completely; pasya -- see; adya -- immediately; sa -- with; cara -- the moving; acaram -- and not moving; mama -- My; dehe -- in this body; gudakesa -- O Arjuna; yat -- that which; ca -- also; anyat -- other; drastum -- to see; icchasi -- you wish.

O Arjuna, whatever you wish to see, behold at once in this body of Mine! This universal form can show you whatever you now desire to see and whatever you may want to see in the future. Everything -- moving and nonmoving -- is here completely, in one place.

na -- never; tu -- but; mam -- Me; sakyase -- are able; drastum -- to see; anena -- with these; eva -- certainly; sva-caksusa -- your own eyes; divyam -- divine; dadami -- I give; te -- to you; caksuh -- eyes; pasya -- see; me -- My; yogam aisvaram -- inconceivable mystic power.

But you cannot see Me with your present eyes. Therefore I give you divine eyes. Behold My mystic opulence!

sanjayah uvaca -- Sanjaya said; evam -- thus; uktva -- saying; tatah -- thereafter; rajan -- O King; maha-yoga-isvarah -- the most powerful mystic; harih -- The Supreme, Hari; darsayam asa -- showed; parthaya -- unto Arjuna; paramam -- the divine; rupam aisvaram -- universal form.

Sanjaya said: O King, having spoken thus, the Supreme Lord of all mystic power, Hari, displayed His universal form to Arjuna.

aneka -- various; vaktra -- mouths; nayanam -- eyes; aneka -- various; adbhuta -- wonderful; darshanam -- sights; aneka -- many; divya -- divine; abharanam -- ornaments; divya -- divine; aneka -- various; udyata -- uplifted; ayudham -- weapons; divya -- divine; malya -- garlands; ambara -- dresses; dharam -- wearing; divya -- divine; gandha -- fragrances; anulepanam -- smeared with; sarva -- all; ascarya-mayam -- wonderful; devam -- shining; anantam -- unlimited; visvatah-mukham -- all-pervading.

Arjuna saw in that universal form unlimited mouths, unlimited eyes, unlimited wonderful visions. The form was decorated with many celestial ornaments and bore many divine upraised weapons. He wore celestial garlands and garments, and many divine scents were smeared over His body. All was wondrous, brilliant, unlimited, all-expanding.

divi -- in the sky; surya -- of suns; sahasrasya -- of many thousands; bhavet -- there were; yugapat -- simultaneously; utthita -- present; yadi -- if; bhah -- light; sadrsi -- like that; sa -- that; syat -- might be; bhasah -- effulgence; tasya -- of Him; maha-atmanah -- the great Lord.

If hundreds of thousands of suns were to rise at once into the sky, their radiance might resemble the effulgence of the Supreme Person in that universal form.

tatra -- there; eka-stham -- in one place; jagat -- the universe; krtsnam -- complete; pravibhaktam -- divided; anekadha -- into many; apasyat -- could see; deva-devasya -- of The Supreme; sarire -- in the universal form; pandavah -- Arjuna; tada -- at that time.

At that time Arjuna could see in the universal form of the Lord the unlimited expansions of the universe situated in one place although divided into many, many thousands.

tatah -- thereafter; sah -- he; vismaya-avistah -- being overwhelmed with wonder; hrsta-roma -- with his bodily hairs standing on end due to his great ecstasy; dhananjayah -- Arjuna; pranamya -- offering obeisances; sirasa -- with the head; devam -- to The Supreme; krta-anjalih -- with folded hands; abhasata -- began to speak.

Then, bewildered and astonished, his hair standing on end, Arjuna bowed his head to offer obeisances and with folded hands began to pray to the Supreme Lord.

arjunah uvaca -- Arjuna said; pasyami -- I see; devan -- all the demigods; tava -- Your; deva -- O Lord; dehe -- in the body; sarvan -- all; tatha -- also; bhuta -- living entities; visesa-sanghan -- specifically assembled; brahmanam -- Lord Brahma; isam -- Lord Shiva; kamala-asana-stham -- sitting on the lotus flower; rsin -- great sages; ca -- also; sarvan -- all; uragan -- serpents; ca -- also; divyan -- divine.

Arjuna said: My dear Lord Krishna, I see assembled in Your body all the demigods and various other living entities. I see Brahma sitting on the lotus flower, as well as Lord Shiva and all the sages and divine serpents.

aneka -- many; bahu -- arms; udara -- bellies; vaktra -- mouths; netram -- eyes; pasyami -- I see; tvam -- You; sarvatah -- on all sides; ananta-rupam -- unlimited form; na antam -- no end; na madhyam -- no middle; na punah -- nor again; tava -- Your; adim -- beginning; pasyami -- I see; visva-isvara -- O Lord of the universe; visva-rupa -- in the form of the universe.

O Lord of the universe, O universal form, I see in Your body many, many arms, bellies, mouths and eyes, expanded everywhere, without limit. I see in You no end, no middle and no beginning.

kiritinam -- with helmets; gadinam -- with maces; cakrinam -- with discs; ca -- and; tejah-rasim -- effulgence; sarvatah -- on all sides; dipti-mantam -- glowing; pasyami -- I see; tvam -- You; durniriksyam -- difficult to see; samantat -- everywhere; dipta-anala -- blazing fire; arka -- of the sun; dyutim -- the sunshine; aprameyam -- immeasurable.

Your form is difficult to see because of its glaring effulgence, spreading on all sides, like blazing fire or the immeasurable radiance of the sun. Yet I see this glowing form everywhere, adorned with various crowns, clubs and discs.

tvam -- You; aksaram -- the infallible; paramam -- supreme; veditavyam -- to be understood; tvam -- You; asya -- of this; visvasya -- universe; param -- supreme; nidhanam -- basis; tvam -- You; avyayah -- inexhaustible; sasvata-dharma-gopta -- maintainer of the eternal religion; sanatanah -- eternal; tvam -- You; purusah -- the Supreme ; matah me -- this is my opinion.

You are the supreme primal objective. You are the ultimate resting place of all this universe. You are inexhaustible, and You are the oldest. You are the maintainer of the eternal religion, the Supreme. This is my opinion.

anadi -- without beginning; madhya -- middle; antam -- or end; ananta -- unlimited; viryam -- glories; ananta -- unlimited; bahum -- arms; sasi -- the moon; surya -- and sun; netram -- eyes; pasyami -- I see; tvam -- You; dipta -- blazing; hutasa-vaktram -- fire coming out of Your mouth; sva-tejasa -- by Your radiance; visvam -- universe; idam -- this; tapantam -- heating.

You are without origin, middle or end. Your glory is unlimited. You have numberless arms, and the sun and moon are Your eyes. I see You with blazing fire coming forth from Your mouth, burning this entire universe by Your own radiance.

dyau -- from outer space; a-prthivyoh -- to the earth; idam -- this; antaram -- between; hi -- certainly; vyaptam -- pervaded; tvaya -- by You; ekena -- alone; disah -- directions; ca -- and; sarvah -- all; drstva -- by seeing; adbhutam -- wonderful; rupam -- form; ugram -- terrible; tava -- Your; idam -- this; loka -- the planetary systems; trayam -- three; pravyathitam -- perturbed; maha-atman -- O great one.

Although You are one, You spread throughout the sky and the planets and all space between. O great one, seeing this wondrous and terrible form, all the planetary systems are perturbed.

ami -- all those; hi -- certainly; tvam -- You; sura-sanghah -- groups of demigods; visanti -- are entering; kecit -- some of them; bhitah -- out of fear; pranjalayah -- with folded hands; grnanti -- are offering prayers; svasti -- all peace; iti -- thus; uktva -- speaking; maha-rsi -- great sages; siddha-sanghah -- perfect beings; stuvanti -- are singing hymns; tvam -- unto You; stutibhih -- with prayers; puskalabhih -- Vedic hymns.

All the hosts of demigods are surrendering before You and entering into You. Some of them, very much afraid, are offering prayers with folded hands. Hosts of great sages and perfected beings, crying "All peace!" are praying to You by singing the Vedic hymns.

rudra -- manifestations of Lord Shiva; adityah -- the Adityas; vasavah -- the Vasus; ye -- all those; ca -- and; sadhyah -- the Sadhyas; visve -- the Visvedevas; asvinau -- the Asvini-kumaras; marutah -- the Maruts; ca -- and; usma-pah -- the forefathers; ca -- and; gandharva -- of the Gandharvas; yaksa -- the Yaksas; asura -- the demons; siddha -- and the perfected demigods; sanghah -- the assemblies; viksante -- are beholding; tvam -- You; vismitah -- in wonder; ca -- also; eva -- certainly; sarve -- all.

All the various manifestations of Lord Shiva, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Visvedevas, the two Asvis, the Maruts, the forefathers, the Gandharvas, the Yaksas, the Asuras and the perfected demigods are beholding You in wonder.

rupam -- the form; mahat -- very great; te -- of You; bahu -- many; vaktra -- faces; netram -- and eyes; maha-baho -- O mighty-armed one; bahu -- many; bahu -- arms; uru -- thighs; padam -- and legs; bahu-udaram -- many bellies; bahu-damstra -- many teeth; karalam -- horrible; drstva -- seeing; lokah -- all the planets; pravyathitah -- perturbed; tatha -- similarly; aham -- I.

O mighty-armed one, all the planets with their demigods are disturbed at seeing Your great form, with its many faces, eyes, arms, thighs, legs, and bellies and Your many terrible teeth; and as they are disturbed, so am I.

nabhah-sprsam -- touching the sky; diptam -- glowing; aneka -- many; varnam -- colors; vyatta -- open; ananam -- mouths; dipta -- glowing; visala -- very great; netram -- eyes; drstva -- seeing; hi -- certainly; tvam -- You; pravyathita -- perturbed; antah -- within; atma -- soul; dhrtim -- steadiness; na -- not; vindami -- I have; samam -- mental tranquillity; ca -- also; visno -- O Lord Vishnu.

O all-pervading Vishnu, seeing You with Your many radiant colors touching the sky, Your gaping mouths, and Your great glowing eyes, my mind is perturbed by fear. I can no longer maintain my steadiness or equilibrium of mind.

damstra -- teeth; karalani -- terrible; ca -- also; te -- Your; mukha-ni -- faces; drstva -- seeing; eva -- thus; kala-anala -- the fire of death; sannibhani -- as if; disah -- the directions; na -- not; jane -- I know; na -- not; labhe -- I obtain; ca -- and; sarma -- grace; prasida -- be pleased; deva-isa -- O Lord of all lords; jagat-nivasa -- O refuge of the worlds.

O Lord of lords, O refuge of the worlds, please be gracious to me. I cannot keep my balance seeing thus Your blazing deathlike faces and awful teeth. In all directions I am bewildered.

ami -- these; ca -- also; tvam -- You; dhrtarastrasya -- of Dhrtarastra; putrah -- the sons; sarve -- all; saha -- with; eva -- indeed; avani-pala -- of warrior kings; sanghaih -- the groups; bhismah -- Bhismadeva; dronah -- Dronacarya; suta-putrah -- Karna; tatha -- also; asau -- that; saha -- with; asmadiyaih -- our; api -- also; yodha-mukhyaih -- chiefs among the warriors; vaktrani -- mouths; te -- Your; tvaramanah -- rushing; visanti -- are entering; damstra -- teeth; karalani -- terrible; bhayanakani -- very fearful; kecit -- some of them; vilagnah -- becoming attached; dasana-antaresu -- between the teeth; sandrsyante -- are seen; curnitaih -- with smashed; uttama-angaih -- heads.

All the sons of Dhrtarastra, along with their allied kings, and Bhisma, Drona, Karna -- and our chief soldiers also -- are rushing into Your fearful mouths. And some I see trapped with heads smashed between Your teeth.

yatha -- as; nadinam -- of the rivers; bahavah -- the many; ambu-vegah -- waves of the waters; samudram -- the ocean; eva -- certainly; abhimukhah -- towards; dravanti -- glide; tatha -- similarly; tava -- Your; ami -- all these; nara-loka-virah -- kings of human society; visanti -- are entering; vaktrani -- the mouths; abhivijvalanti -- and are blazing.

As the many waves of the rivers flow into the ocean, so do all these great warriors enter blazing into Your mouths.

yatha -- as; pradiptam -- blazing; jyalanam -- a fire; patangah -- moths; visanti -- enter; nasaya -- for destruction; samrddha -- with full; vegah -- speed; tatha eva -- similarly; nasaya -- for destruction; visanti -- are entering; lokah -- all people; tava -- Your; api -- also; vaktrani -- mouths; samrddha-vegah -- with full speed.

I see all people rushing full speed into Your mouths, as moths dash to destruction in a blazing fire.

lelihyase -- You are licking; grasamanah -- devouring; samantat -- from all directions; lokan -- people; samagran -- all; vadanaih -- by the mouths; jyaladbhih -- blazing; tejobhih -- by effulgence; apurya -- covering; jagat -- the universe; samagram -- all; bhasah -- rays; tava -- Your; ugrah -- terrible; pratapanti -- are scorching; visno -- O all-pervading Lord.

O Vishnu, I see You devouring all people from all sides with Your flaming mouths. Covering all the universe with Your effulgence, You are manifest with terrible, scorching rays.

akhyahi -- please explain; me -- unto me; kah -- who; bhavan -- You; ugra-rupah -- fierce form; namah astu -- obeisances; te -- unto You; deva-vara -- O great one amongst the demigods; prasida -- be gracious; vijnatum -- to know; icchami -- I wish; bhavantam -- You; adyam -- the original; na -- not; hi -- certainly; prajanami -- do I know; tava -- Your; pravrttim -- mission.

O Lord of lords, so fierce of form, please tell me who You are. I offer my obeisances unto You; please be gracious to me. You are the primal Lord. I want to know about You, for I do not know what Your mission is.

sri-bhagavan uvaca -- the Personality of Godhead said; kalah -- time; asmi -- I am; loka -- of the worlds; ksaya-krt -- the destroyer; pravrddhah -- great; lokan -- all people; samahartum -- in destroying; iha -- in this world; pravrttah -- engaged; rte -- without, except for; api -- even; tvam -- you; na -- never; bhavisyanti -- will be; sarve -- all; ye -- who; avasthitah -- situated; prati-anikesu -- on the opposite sides; yodhah -- the soldiers.

The Supreme said: Time (Kal) I am, the great destroyer of the worlds, and I have come here to destroy all people. With the exception of you [the Pandavas], all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain.

tasmat -- therefore; tvam -- you; uttistha -- get up; yasah -- fame; labhasva -- gain; jitva -- conquering; satrun -- enemies; bhunksva -- enjoy; rajyam -- kingdom; samrddham -- flourishing; maya -- by Me; eva -- certainly; ete -- all these; nihatah -- killed; purvam eva -- by previous arrangement; nimitta-matram- just the cause; bhava -- become; savya-sacin -- O Savyasaci.

Therefore get up. Prepare to fight and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasaci, can be but an instrument in the fight.

dronam ca -- also Drona; bhismam ca -- also Bhisma; jayadratham ca -- also Jayadratha; karnam -- Karna; tatha -- also; anyan -- others; api -- certainly; yodha-viran -- great warriors; maya -- by Me; hatan -- already killed; tvam -- you; jahi -- destroy; ma -- do not; vyathisthah -- be disturbed; yudhyasva -- just fight; jeta asi -- you will conquer; rane -- in the fight; sapatnan -- enemies.

Drona, Bhisma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other great warriors have already been destroyed by Me. Therefore, kill them and do not be disturbed. Simply fight, and you will vanquish your enemies in battle.

sanjayah uvaca -- Sanjaya said; etat -- thus; srutva -- hearing; vacanam -- the speech; kesavasya -- of Krishna; krta-anjalih -- with folded hands; vepamanah -- trembling; kiriti -- Arjuna; namas-krtva -- offering obeisances; bhuyah -- again; eva -- also; aha -- said; krsnam -- unto Krishna; sa-gadgadam -- with a faltering voice; bhita-bhitah -- fearful; pranamya -- offering obeisances.

Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: O King, after hearing these words from The Supreme, the trembling Arjuna offered obeisances with folded hands again and again. He fearfully spoke to Lord Krishna in a faltering voice, as follows.

arjunah uvaca -- Arjuna said; sthane -- rightly; hrsika-isa -- O master of all senses; tava -- Your; prakirtya -- by the glories; jagat -- the entire world; prahrsyati -- is rejoicing; anurajyate -- is becoming attached; ca -- and; raksamsi -- the demons; bhitani -- out of fear; disah -- in all directions; dravanti -- are fleeing; sarve -- all; namasyanti -- are offering respects; ca -- also; siddha-sanghah -- the perfect human beings.

Arjuna said: O master of the senses, the world becomes joyful upon hearing Your name, and thus everyone becomes attached to You. Although the perfected beings offer You their respectful homage, the demons are afraid, and they flee here and there. All this is rightly done.

kasmat -- why; ca -- also; te -- unto You; na -- not; nameran -- they should offer proper obeisances; maha-atman -- O great one; gariyase -- who are better; brahmanah -- than Brahma; api -- although; adi-kartre -- to the supreme creator; ananta -- O unlimited; deva-isa -- O God of the gods; jagat-nivasa -- O refuge of the universe; tvam -- You are; aksaram -- imperishable; sat-asat -- to cause and effect; tat param -- transcendental; yat -- because.

O great one, greater even than Brahma, You are the original creator. Why then should they not offer their respectful obeisances unto You? O limitless one, God of gods, refuge of the universe! You are the invincible source, the cause of all causes, transcendental to this material manifestation.

tvam -- You; adi-devah -- the original God; purusah -- Supreme ; puranah -- old; tvam -- You; asya -- of this; visvasya -- universe; param -- transcendental; nidhanam -- refuge; vetta -- the knower; asi -- You are; vedyam -- the knowable; ca -- and; param -- transcendental; ca -- and; dhama -- refuge; tvaya -- by You; tatam -- pervaded; visvam -- the universe; ananta-rupa -- O unlimited form.

You are the original Supreme God, the oldest, the ultimate sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world. You are the knower of everything, and You are all that is knowable. You are the supreme refuge, above the material modes. O limitless form! This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by You!

vayuh -- air; yamah -- the controller; agnih -- fire; varunah -- water; sasa-ankah -- the moon; prajapatih -- Brahma; tvam -- You; prapitamahah -- the great-grandfather; ca -- also; namah -- my respects; namah -- again my respects; te -- unto You; astu -- let there be; sahasra-krtvah -- a thousand times; punah ca -- and again; bhuyah -- again; api -- also; namah -- offering my respects; namah te -- offering my respects unto You.

You are air, and You are the supreme controller! You are fire, You are water, and You are the moon! You are Brahma, the first living creature, and You are the great-grandfather. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You a thousand times, and again and yet again!

namah -- offering obeisances; purastat -- from the front; atha -- also; prsthatah -- from behind; te -- unto You; namah astu -- I offer my respects; te -- unto You; sarvatah -- from all sides; eva -- indeed; sarva -- because You are everything; ananta-virya -- unlimited potency; amita-vikramah -- and unlimited force; tvam -- You; sarvam -- everything; samapnosi -- You cover; tatah -- therefore; asi -- You are; sarvah -- everything.

Obeisances to You from the front, from behind and from all sides! O unbounded power, You are the master of limitless might! You are all-pervading, and thus You are everything!

sakha -- friend; iti -- thus; matva -- thinking; prasabham -- presumptuously; yat -- whatever; uktam -- said; he krsna -- O Krishna; he yadava -- O Yadava; he sakhe -- O my dear friend; iti -- thus; ajanata -- without knowing; mahimanam -- glories; tava -- Your; idam -- this; maya -- by me; pramadat -- out of foolishness; pranayena -- out of love; va api -- either; yat -- whatever; ca -- also; avahasa-artham -- for joking; asat-krtah -- dishonored; asi -- You have been; vihara -- in relaxation; sayya -- in lying down; asana -- in sitting; bhojanesu -- or while eating together; ekah -- alone; atha va -- or; api -- also; acyuta -- O infallible one; tat-samaksam -- among companions; tat -- all those; ksamaye -- ask forgiveness; tvam -- from You; aham -- I; aprameyam -- immeasurable.

Thinking of You as my friend, I have rashly addressed You "O Krishna," "O Yadava," "O my friend," not knowing Your glories. Please forgive whatever I may have done in madness or in love. I have dishonored You many times, jesting as we relaxed, lay on the same bed, or sat or ate together, sometimes alone and sometimes in front of many friends. O infallible one, please excuse me for all those offenses.

pita -- the father; asi -- You are; lokasya -- of all the world; cara -- moving; acarasya -- and nonmoving; tvam -- You are; asya -- of this; pujyah -- worshipable; ca -- also; guruh -- master; gariyan -- glorious; na -- never; tvat-samah -- equal to You; asti -- there is; abhyadhikah -- greater; kutah -- how is it possible; anyah -- other; loka-traye -- in the three planetary systems; api -- also; apratima-prabhava -- O immeasurable power.

You are the father of this complete cosmic manifestation, of the moving and the nonmoving. You are its worshipable chief, the supreme spiritual master. No one is equal to You, nor can anyone be one with You. How then could there be anyone greater than You within the three worlds, O Lord of immeasurable power?

tasmat -- therefore; pranamya -- offering obeisances; pranidhaya -- laying down; kayam -- the body; prasadaye -- to beg mercy; tvam -- unto You; aham -- I; isam -- unto the Supreme Lord; idyam -- worshipable; pita iva -- like a father; putrasya -- with a son; sakha iva -- like a friend; sakhyuh -- with a friend; priyah -- a lover; priya-yah -- with the dearmost; arhasi -- You should; deva -- my Lord; sodhum -- tolerate.

You are the Supreme Lord, to be worshiped by every living being. Thus I fall down to offer You my respectful obeisances and ask Your mercy. As a father tolerates the impudence of his son, or a friend tolerates the impertinence of a friend, or a wife tolerates the familiarity of her partner, please tolerate the wrongs I may have done You.

adrsta-purvam -- never seen before; hrsitah -- gladdened; asmi -- I am; drstva -- by seeing; bhayena -- out of fear; ca -- also; pravyathitam -- perturbed; manah -- mind; me -- my; tat -- that; eva -- certainly; me -- unto me; darsaya -- show; deva -- O Lord; rupam -- the form; prasida- just be gracious; deva-isa -- O Lord of lords; jagat-nivasa -- O refuge of the universe.

After seeing this universal form, which I have never seen before, I am gladdened, but at the same time my mind is disturbed with fear. Therefore please bestow Your grace upon me and reveal again Your form, O Lord of lords, O abode of the universe.

kiritinam -- with helmet; gadinam -- with club; cakra-hastam -- disc in hand; icchami -- I wish; tvam -- You; drastum -- to see; aham -- I; tatha eva -- in that position; tena eva -- in that; rupena -- form; catuh-bhujena -- four-handed; sahasra-baho -- O thousand-handed one; bhava -- just become; visva-murte -- O universal form.

O universal form, O thousand-armed Lord, I wish to see You in Your four-armed form, with helmeted head and with club, wheel, conch and lotus flower in Your hands. I long to see You in that form.

sri-bhagavan uvaca -- The Supreme said; maya -- by Me; prasannena -- happily; tava -- unto you; arjuna -- O Arjuna; idam -- this; rupam -- form; param -- transcendental; darsitam -- shown; atma-yogat -- by My internal potency; tejah-mayam -- full of effulgence; visvam -- the entire universe; anantam -- unlimited; adyam -- original; yat -- that which; me -- My; tvat anyena -- besides you; na drsta-purvam -- no one has previously seen.

The Supreme said: My dear Arjuna, happily have I shown you, by My internal potency, this supreme universal form within the material world. No one before you has ever seen this primal form, unlimited and full of glaring effulgence.

na -- never; veda-yajna -- by sacrifice; adhyayanaih -- or Vedic study; na -- never; danaih -- by charity; na -- never; ca -- also; kriyabhih -- by pious activities; na -- never; tapobhih -- by serious penances; ugraih -- severe; evam-rupah -- in this form; sakyah -- can; aham -- I; nr-loke -- in this material world; drastum -- be seen; tvat -- than you; anyena -- by another; kuru-pravira -- O best among the Kuru warriors.

O best of the Kuru warriors, no one before you has ever seen this universal form of Mine, for neither by studying the Vedas, nor by performing sacrifices, nor by charity, nor by pious activities, nor by severe penances can I be seen in this form in the material world.

ma -- let it not be; te -- unto you; vyatha -- trouble; ma -- let it not be; ca -- also; vimudha-bhavah -- bewilderment; drstva -- by seeing; rupam -- form; ghoram -- horrible; idrk -- as it is; mama -- My; idam -- this; vyapeta-bhih -- free from all fear; prita-manah -- pleased in mind; punah -- again; tvam -- you; tat -- that; eva -- thus; me -- My; rupam -- form; idam -- this; prapasya -- just see.

You have been perturbed and bewildered by seeing this horrible feature of Mine. Now let it be finished. My devotee, be free again from all disturbances. With a peaceful mind you can now see the form you desire.

sanjayah uvaca -- Sanjaya said; iti -- thus; arjunam -- unto Arjuna; vasudevah -- Krishna; tatha -- in that way; uktva -- speaking; svakam -- His own; rupam -- form; darsayam asa -- showed; bhuyah -- again; asvasayam asa -- encouraged; ca -- also; bhitam -- fearful; enam -- him; bh utva -- becoming; punah -- again; saumya-vapuh -- the beautiful form; maha-atma -- the great one.

Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: The Supreme, Krishna, having spoken thus to Arjuna, displayed His real four-armed form and at last showed His two-armed form, thus encouraging the fearful Arjuna.

arjunah uvaca -- Arjuna said; drstva -- seeing; idam -- this; manusam -- human; rupam -- form; tava -- Your; saumyam -- very beautiful; janardana -- O chastiser of the enemies; idanim -- now; asmi -- I am; samvrttah -- settled; sa-cetah -- in my consciousness; prakrtim -- to my own nature; gatah -- returned.

When Arjuna thus saw Krishna in His original form, he said: O Janardana, seeing this humanlike form, so very beautiful, I am now composed in mind, and I am restored to my original nature.

sri-bhagavan uvaca -- The Supreme said; su-durdarsam -- very difficult to see; idam -- this; rupam -- form; drstavan asi -- as you have seen; yat -- which; mama -- of Mine; devah -- the demigods; api -- also; asya -- this; rupasya -- form; nityam -- eternally; darshana-kanksinah -- aspiring to see.

The Supreme said: My dear Arjuna, this form of Mine you are now seeing is very difficult to behold. Even the demigods are ever seeking the opportunity to see this form, which is so dear.

na -- never; aham -- I; vedaih -- by study of the Vedas; na -- never; tapasa -- by serious penances; na -- never; danena -- by charity; na -- never; ca -- also; ijyaya -- by worship; sakyah -- it is possible; evam-vidhah -- like this; drastum -- to see; drstavan -- seeing; asi -- you are; mam -- Me; yatha -- as.

The form you are seeing with your transcendental eyes cannot be understood simply by studying the Vedas, nor by undergoing serious penances, nor by charity, nor by worship. It is not by these means that one can see Me as I am.

bhaktya -- by devotional service; tu -- but; ananyaya -- without being mixed with fruitive activities or speculative knowledge; sakyah -- possible; aham -- I; evam-vidhah -- like this; arjuna -- O Arjuna; jnatum -- to know; drastum -- to see; ca -- and; tattvena -- in fact; pravestum -- to enter into; ca -- also; parantapa -- O mighty-armed one.

My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can I be understood as I am, standing before you, and can thus be seen directly. Only in this way can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding.

mat-karma-krt -- engaged in doing My work; mat-paramah -- considering Me the Supreme; mat-bhaktah -- engaged in My devotional service; sanga-varjitah -- freed from the contamination of fruitive activities and mental speculation; nirvairah -- without an enemy; sarva-bhutesu -- among all living entities; yah -- one who; sah -- he; mam -- unto Me; eti -- comes; pandava -- O son of Pandu.

My dear Arjuna, he who engages in My pure devotional service, free from the contaminations of fruitive activities and mental speculation, he who works for Me, who makes Me the supreme goal of his life, and who is friendly to every living being -- he certainly comes to Me.