Chapter 11: The Cosmic Form

विश्वरूपदर्शनयोग · 55 verses. Arjuna said: My Lord! Your words concerning the Supreme Secret of Self, given for my blessing, have dispelled the illusions that surrounded me.

11.1 Arjuna said: My Lord! Your words concerning the Supreme Secret of Self, given for my blessing, have dispelled the illusions that surrounded me.
11.2 O Lord, whose eyes are like the lotus petal! You have described in detail the origin and dissolution of beings, and Your own Eternal Majesty.
11.3 I believe all as you have declared it. I now long to have a vision of your divine form, O Most High!
11.4 If you think it is possible for me to see it, show me, O Lord of Lords, your eternal self.
11.5 Lord Shri Krishna replied: "Behold, O Arjuna! My celestial forms, by the hundreds and thousands, various in kind, color, and shape."
11.6 Behold, thou seest the powers of Nature: fire, earth, wind, and sky; the sun, the heavens, the moon, the stars; all forces of vitality and healing; and the roving winds.
11.7 Here, living in Me, O Arjuna, behold the entire universe, both movable and immovable, and anything else you would like to see!
11.8 Yet, since you cannot see Me with mortal eyes, behold, I give you divine sight. Now, see the glory of My sovereignty.
11.9 Sanjaya continued: "Having thus spoken, O King, the Lord Shri Krishna, the Almighty Prince of Wisdom, showed Arjuna the Supreme Form of the Great God.
11.10 There were countless eyes, mouths, and innumerable mystic forms, with shining ornaments and flaming celestial weapons.
11.11 Crowned with heavenly garlands, clothed in shining garments, anointed with divine unguents, He showed Himself as the Resplendent One, Marvelous, Boundless, and Omnipresen…
11.12 Could a thousand suns blaze forth together, it would be but a faint reflection of the radiance of the Lord God.
11.13 In that vision, Arjuna saw the universe, with its manifold shapes, all embraced in one, its Supreme Lord.
11.14 Then, Arjuna, filled with awe, his hair standing on end, bowing his head, and clasping his hands in reverence, spoke to the Lord:
11.15 Arjuna said: O Almighty God! I see in You the powers of Nature, the various creatures of the world, the Progenitor on His lotus throne, the Sages, and the shining angels.
11.16 I see You, infinite in form, with faces, eyes, and limbs everywhere; with no beginning, middle, or end. O You, Lord of the Universe, whose form is universal!
11.17 I see you with the crown, the scepter, and the discus; a blaze of splendor.
11.18 You are imperishable, the only one worthy of being known, the priceless treasure-house of the universe, the immortal guardian of eternal life, and the everlasting spirit.
11.19 Without beginning, without middle, and without end, infinite in power, with arms all-embracing, the sun and moon as Your eyes, Your face beaming with the fire of sacrific…
11.20 Alone, you fill all the quarters of the sky, earth, and heaven, and the regions between.
11.21 The troops of celestial beings enter into You, some invoking You in fear, with folded palms; the great seers and adepts sing hymns to Your glory, saying, "All hail!"
11.22 The vital forces, major stars, fire, earth, air, sky, sun, heaven, moon, and planets; the angels, guardians of the universe, divine healers, winds, fathers, heavenly sing…
11.23 Seeing Thy stupendous Form, O Most Mighty One, with its myriad faces, its innumerable eyes, limbs, and terrible jaws, I myself and all the worlds are overwhelmed with awe…
11.24 When I see You, touching the heavens, glowing with color, with open mouth and wide, fiery eyes, I am terrified. O my Lord! My courage and peace of mind abandon me.
11.25 When I see Thy mouths with their fearful jaws, like glowing fires at the dissolution of creation, I lose all sense of place and find no rest.
11.26 All these sons of Dhritarashtra, along with the hosts of princes, Bheeshma, Drona, and Karna, as well as the other warrior chiefs on our side;
11.27 1 See them all rushing headlong into Thy mouths, with terrible tusks, horrible to behold. Some are mangled between Thy jaws, with their heads crushed to atoms.
11.28 As rivers in flood surge furiously towards the ocean, so these heroes, the greatest among men, fling themselves into Thy flaming mouths.
11.29 As moths impetuously fly towards the flame, only to be killed, so these men rush into Your mouths to court their own destruction.
11.30 You seem to swallow up the worlds, lapping them in flame. Your glory fills the universe. Your fierce rays beat down upon it irresistibly.
11.31 Tell me then, who are You, who wears this dreadful form? I bow before You, O Mighty One! Have mercy, I pray, and let me see You as You were at first.
11.32 Lord Shri Krishna replied: I have shown myself to you as the Destroyer who lays waste the world and whose purpose is destruction.
11.33 Then gird up your loins and conquer. Subdue your foes and enjoy the kingdom in prosperity. I have already doomed them. Be thou my instrument, Arjuna!
11.34 Drona, Bheeshma, Jayadratha, Karna, and other brave warriors - I have condemned them all. Destroy them; fight without fear. Your foes shall be crushed."
11.35 Sanjaya continued: "Having heard these words from the Lord Shri Krishna, the Prince Arjuna, with folded hands trembling, prostrated himself and with a choked voice, bowin…
11.36 Arjuna said: My Lord! It is natural for the world to revel and rejoice when singing praises of Your glory; the demons fly in fear and the saints offer You their salutatio…
11.37 How else should they do? O Supreme Self, greater than the powers of creation, the first cause, infinite, the Lord of Lords, the home of the universe, imperishable, being …
11.38 You are the Primal God, the Ancient One, the Supreme Abode of this universe, the Knower, the Knowledge, and the Final Home. You fill everything. Your form is infinite.
11.39 You are the wind, you are death, you are the fire, the water, the moon, the father, and the grandfather.
11.40 Salutations to Thee in front and on all sides, Thou who encompasseth me round about.
11.41 Whatever I have said to you in rashness, taking you only as a friend and addressing you as “O Krishna! O Yadava! O Friend!” in thoughtless familiarity, without understand…
11.42 Whatever insults I have offered to You in jest, in sport, in repose, in conversation, or at a banquet, alone or in a crowd, I ask for Your forgiveness for them all, O You…
11.43 For you are the Father of all things movable and immovable, the Worshipful, the Master of Masters! In all the worlds, there is none equal to you; how then could there be …
11.44 Therefore, I prostrate myself before You, O Lord! Most Adorable! I salute You, and I ask for Your blessing.
11.45 I rejoice that I have seen what no man has ever seen before; yet, O Lord! I am overwhelmed with fear. Please take on the form I know.
11.46 I long to see Thee as Thou wert before, with the crown, the scepter, and the discus in Thy hands; in Thy other form, with Thy four hands, O Thou whose arms are countless …
11.47 Lord Shri Krishna replied: My beloved friend! It is only through My grace and power that you have been able to see this vision of splendour, the Universal, the Infinite, …
11.48 It is not possible for man on earth to see what thou hast seen, O thou foremost hero of the Kuru-clan, through study of the scriptures, sacrifice or gift, ritual or rigor…
11.49 Do not be afraid or confused by the terrible vision. Put away your fear and, with a joyful mind, see Me again in My usual form.
11.50 Sanjaya continued: "Having thus spoken to Arjuna, Lord Shri Krishna showed Himself again in His accustomed form; and the Mighty Lord, in gentle tones, softly consoled him…
11.51 Arjuna said: Seeing You in Your gentle human form, my Lord, I am myself again, calm once more.
11.52 Lord Shri Krishna replied: It is difficult to see the vision of Me that thou hast seen. Even the most powerful have longed for it in vain.
11.53 It is not possible to see Me as you have done through studying the scriptures, performing austerities, giving gifts, or making sacrifices.
11.54 Only through tireless devotion can I be seen and known; only in this way can a person become one with Me, O Arjuna!
11.55 He who does every action for My sake, to whom I am the final goal, who loves Me alone and hates no one—O My dearest son, only he can realize Me!

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