
The eleventh chapter marks a very significant and intriguing transition in the battlefield dialogue.
After having heard about the evolution and dissolution of beings in the imperishable Supreme, and having listened to the descriptions of the divine glories, Arjuna feels a powerful urge to see that mystic process of universal evolution and dissolution directly. He becomes deluded, wishing to ‘see’ the glorious display of the Self as the world.
In response, Krishna directs Arjuna to focus his attention on perceiving the whole world, including the body, as inhering in the Self. He then reveals the whole universe as inhering in one single source — the sole theme of spirituality as well as philosophy and religion.
Arjuna finds the universal form filling the space from the earth to the highest heaven and its expanse cast fear in him and he had no strength to bear the fearful sight any more. Instead of strengthening his spirit, the sight had taken away his much-needed peace and composure. Unable to bear the sight, Arjuna pleads with Krishna to show his pleasant, divine form.
Krishna declares that sacred Vedic study, devout performance of holy yajña, liberal pursuit of dāna, stringent performance of austerities – none of these will lead to comprehending the Viśvarūpa. Exclusive devotion alone, wherein the mind is wholesomely attuned to the Supreme, will equip the seeker for the purpose.
Sri Krishna gives the message that seekers must not get drawn to any physical manifestation. Instead, they must take to exclusive devotion which alone leads to a universal vision. The goal is not to see a physical Viśvarūpa, but to grow into a universal dimension.
Arjuna said: With the sole intent of blessing me, whatever You have said about the supreme hidden spiritual Truth, by that my delusion is gone.
O lotus-leaf-eyed Krishna! I have heard from You in detail the origin of all beings, as well as their dissolution; also the inexhaustible glory of the Supreme.
O supreme Lord, as You have recounted the greatness of Yourself, I wish to see Your Lordly form, O Purushottama.
If you feel, O Lord, that I am fit to see, then O Master of Yoga, show me Your immutable Self (with Its glory as you have related).
Lord Krishna said: See, O Partha (Arjuna), My hundreds and thousands of forms, consisting of many divine kinds, colours and shapes.
Behold Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Ashvins, and Maruts – many a marvel and glory, not seen ever by anyone, O descendant of Bharata.
O conqueror of sleep (Arjuna), see now in My body the entire Universe, consisting of mobile and immobile creation, inhering in one source. Behold also whatever you further aspire to see.
You cannot see My universal magnitude with your gross external eyes. So I am bestowing a divine vision to you. See now the spiritual grandeur of My yoga.
Sanjaya said: O King (Dhritarashtra), stating thus, Lord Hari (Krishna), the great Yogeśvara, revealed to Partha (Arjuna) the Supreme Divine Form.
Ah, with countless mouths and eyes, multiple awe-inspiring sights, manifold divine ornaments, appallingly assorted divine weapons lifted up in readiness for battle;
Dressed in divine garlands and apparel, smeared with unguents of divine perfume, wonderful on every front, the infinite Lord stood with face everywhere.
The radiance from the Great person of the Lord is such that it may resemble the brilliance in the sky of a thousand suns if they were to blaze together!
The son of Pandu (Arjuna) saw there in the person of the Supreme, the God of gods, the entire Universe, its multiple divisions inhering in One.
Thereupon Dhananjaya (Arjuna), overwhelmed with wonder, hairs of the body bristling in excitement, prostrated before the Lord (Krishna), and spoke with folded hands.
Arjuna said: I behold in Your body all devas (heavenly denizens), equally all beings with their special groups and orders, Brahmā, the Creator, seated in lotus, Rishis as well as the celestial serpents.
I see You with many hands, bellies, faces and eyes, as of infinite measure in every direction. I see no end, nor middle, nor beginning for You, O Lord of the Universe, O Universal Form itself!
I see You with the crown, the mace, the discus, and a host of powerful brilliances blazing on all sides, making it hard to look around anywhere, dazzling like the sun and fire, defying all measures.
You are the Imperishable, the Absolute, the One to be known. You are the support and refuge of the Universe. You are inexhaustible, the protector of eternal dharma. You are the ever-present Purusha.
I see You without beginning, middle or end, as infinitely powerful with countless arms, with sun and moon as Your eyes, blazing fire as Your mouth, scorching the whole Universe with powerful radiance.
Your presence alone fills the entire space between heaven and earth, equally so all the (eight) directions. Seeing Your fierce and astounding form, O Mahātman, the three worlds are trembling indeed!
Hosts of devas are entering You, the Supreme; some out of fear, adoring You with folded hands. Groups of Seers and Siddhas, bidding auspiciousness, are praising You with magnificent hymns.
Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Vishva-devas, Ashvins, Maruts, Ushmapas, hosts of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras and Siddhas, all look at You with amazement.
Seeing Your stupendous form, with manifold faces and eyes, O Mighty-armed, with many hands, thighs and feet, manifold bellies, multiple protruding teeth, all worlds are shaken in affliction; and so too am I.
Touching the skies, blazing with many colours, with wide open mouth and large brilliant eyes – seeing You thus, my soul is shaken, I have lost all stability and peace, O universal Lord!
Looking at Your gaping mouths with fiercely protruding teeth resembling the blazing fire of deluge, I have lost all sense of direction, I have no peace or composure. Be gracious (to me), O Lord of the devas, refuge of the Universe!
All the sons of Dhritarashtra with hordes of kings, Bheeshma, Drona, Karna (the son of Suta), along with the chief fighters on our side too, are rushing into the protruded teeth of Your terrible jaws. Some are seen with crushed heads caught between Your fierce teeth.
As the rushing waters of many rivers speed on towards the ocean, so are these heroes of men, entering Your blazing mouths.
As swarms of moths enter into the blazing fire only to get perished, so are the worlds entering Your mouths with tremendous speed to court destruction.
Swallowing all the worlds with blazing mouths, Your tongues are licking all around. The terrific fiery rays proceeding from You, filling the entire world, are immensely scorching indeed, O Vishnu!
Your Form is terrifying. Tell me who You are. O Great among Devas, my prostration to You. Be pleased towards me. I aspire to know You, the primordial being. I know not Your intent.
Lord Krishna said: I (the Supreme) am the mighty Time, destroyer of the world, engaged here to annihilate all beings. Even without you (if you are not there to fight), all the warriors arrayed in the rival armies will not survive.
Therefore arise, attain fame by conquering enemies, and enjoy the affluent kingdom. All of them are already slain by Me (the Supreme). O Savyasachin (Arjuna), be only an instrument in the process.
Kill Drona, Bheeshma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other brave fighters. Be not pained or troubled. They are (already) slain by Me (the Supreme). Fight, and win over the adversaries in the battle.
Sanjaya said: After hearing these words of Keshava (Krishna), trembling Kiriti (Arjuna), prostrating again with folded hands, told Krishna fearfully with choked voice:
Arjuna said: It is quite in order, O Hrisheekesha (Krishna), that the world exults and rejoices in praising You, and the Rakshasas (evil-minded, devils) flee from You in fear to all directions, while siddhas (elevated souls) prostrate in adoration.
O Mahātman, why should they not prostrate before You, as You are greater than even Brahmā (the Creator). You are the primordial Cause of all! O Infinite, the Lord of Devas, Abode of the Universe, You are the Imperishable, the Principle of existence and non-existence, as well as the Absolute that transcends both!
You are the foremost Deva, the Purusha, the Ancient. You are the Refuge of the entire world. You are the Knower, the knowable, as well as the supreme Abode. O the Infinite, by You is this Universe pervaded.
You are Vayu (wind-god), Yama (Lord of death), Agni (fire), Varuna (rain-god), Moon, the Father of beings and the great Grandfather. Obeisance to You a thousand times, prostrations to You again and again.
Salutation to You from the front and back. O All, Prostration from all sides. You are of infinite power and unsurpassable valour. You pervade all things, and therefore You are all !
Considering You only as a friend, not knowing Your greatness, whatever I have spoken out of carelessness or fondness, addressing you freely as O Krishna, O Yadava, O my friend, whatever treatment I have given You without due respect or in fun, while playing, lying on bed, sitting together, eating food, alone or even in presence of others, O Achyuta (Krishna), for all that I beg forgiveness from You, the immeasurable.
You are the Father of the mobile and immobile creation, as also the object of worship, greater than the great. None in the three worlds can equal You. Where then, is any to excel You, O one of incomparable might?
Therefore, O worshippable Lord, bending my body and prostrating before you, I seek Your grace. Like a father the son’s, a friend his friend’s, a dear one his beloved’s, O God, You must bear with my lapses.
Seeing this Form never seen earlier, I am delighted, but my mind is also troubled by fear. Show me that Divine Form alone, and be pleased with me, O Lord of all gods, O the indwelling Presence of the whole Universe.
I wish to see You in that form – with crown, mace and discus. Therefore, O Thousand-armed,
O Universal form, become that four-armed form itself.
Lord Krishna said: As I am pleased with you, O Arjuna, this brilliant, universal, infinite, primordial, supreme Form, which none else than you has ever seen, has been shown to you by Me, by dint of the power of the Self.
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).
Having seen this fierce form of Mine, have no affliction or delusional notes. With fear gone and the mind pleasant, see again this (natural) form of Mine, that you yearned to see.
Sanjaya said: Having spoken to Arjuna like this, Vasudeva (Krishna) showed again his own (natural) form. Having put on the gentle, graceful form, the great Soul (Krishna) consoled the frightened Arjuna.
Arjuna said: Having seen your gentle human form, O Janardana, I have now become composed. With my mind comforted, I am restored to my own nature.
Lord Krishna said: Whatever form of Me (the Supreme) you saw, is extremely rare to see. Even Devas always aspire to see this Universal form!
I (the Supreme) cannot be seen in the manner you have seen, either by Vedic studies, or by austerities, charities or yajñas.
But Arjuna, only by unswerving exclusive devotion, one can know, visualize, realize in essence and finally enter into this Universal Dimension of Mine, O scorcher of enemies.
One who works for My sake, considers Me (the Self) as the Supreme, is devoted to Me, is rid of any delusional clinging, and fosters no animosity towards anybody, attains Me (the Supreme), O Pandava.
Om – the symbol of Brahman, tat – that singular Reality (Brahman), sat – the ever abiding presence (Brahman).
Thus ends the eleventh chapter entitled Viśva-rūpa-darśana Yoga, during the Srikrishna-Arjuna dialogue in Śrīmad Bhagavad Gita, constituting Yoga-śāstra, which falls within Brahmavidya as presented in the Vedic Upanishads.