Chapter 11: Viśvarūpa-darśana-yoga: – Revealing the Universal FormVerse 48
न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै:
न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रै: ।
एवंरूप: शक्य अहं नृलोके
द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर ॥
na veda-yajñādhyayanair-na dānai:
na ca kriyābhir-na tapobhir-ugrai:
evaṃ-rūpa: śakya ahaṃ nṛ-loke
draṣṭuṃ tvad-anyena kuru-pravīra – 11.48
Neither by Vedic sacrifice and study, nor by dāna (charity), nor by benevolent activities and severe austerities, this form of Mine can be seen by anyone other than you in the human world, O Kuru-pravira (Arjuna, the hero of the Kurus).
Chapter 11: Viśvarūpa-darśana-yoga: – Revealing the Universal Form - Verse 48
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
So far it was Arjuna’s description and assessment about Viśva-rūpa. Now Krishna himself speaks about it. The vision Arjuna had, says Krishna, will not grace anyone else. Even the coveted Vedic rituals or austerities will not earn the merit to see it.
Here is a very rare instance of Guru-śishya interaction. Arjuna’s innocence coupled with simple curiosity alone led to the unfoldment of Krishna’s Self in Its universal dimension. None else, says Krishna, will have the fortune to see it, even with very high religious and ethical merits. Krishna is hinting at a greater spiritual note of competence.
