Chapter 11. "Vishya-Rupa-Darsanam, or The Vision of the Universal Form".
Arjuna said:
1. The supremely profound word regarding Self-knowledge, spoken by Thee out of compassion for me, has dispelled this my delusion.
2. O Lotus-Eyed (Krishna), I have heard at length from Thee of the creation and dissolution of beings, as well as of Thine inexhaustible glory.
3. O Great Lord, as Thou hast declared Thyself, so it is. O Supreme Being, I desire to see Thy Godly Form.
4. O Lord, if Thou thinkest me able (worthy) to see that (Form), then, O Lord of Yogis, show me Thine Infinite Self.
The Blessed One said:
5. Behold, O Partha, My various celestial Forms, of different colors and shapes, by hundreds and by thousands.
6. O descendant of Bharata, behold the Adityas, the Rudras, the Vasus, the twin Asvins and the Maruts. Behold many wonders that were not seen before.
7. O gudakesha (Arjuna), behold in this body of Mine the entire universe together, with all that is moving and unmoving and whatever else thou desirest to perceive.
8. But with these eyes of thine thou canst not see Me; therefore I give thee Divine sight. Behold my Supreme Yoga power!
Sanjaya said:
9. O King, having spoken thus, the great Lord of Yoga, Hari (Krishna), then showed to Partha His Supreme Godly Form.
10. With many faces and eyes, with many wondrous sights, with many celestial ornaments and with many celestial weapons unlifted.
11. Wearing celestial garlands and garments, anointed with celestial fragrant perfumes; the all-wonderful Deity, infinite, facing the universe everywhere.
12. If the effulgence of a thousand suns were to shine at once in the sky, that might resemble the splendor that great Being.
13. Then the son of Pandu (Arjuna) saw the entire universe resting together, with its manifold divisions, in the body of the God of gods.
14. Then Dhanajaya, overpowered with wonder, and his hair standing on end, bending down his head in awe to the Deity, spoke with folded hands:
Arjuna said:
15. O God! in Thy body I see all the gods, as well as multitudes of all kinds of beings; the Lord Brahma, seated on the lotus throne, al the Rishis and all the celestial serpents.
16. O Lord of the universe, O Universal Form, I see Thee with manifold arms, bellies, mouths and eyes, boundless on every side; neither do I see Thy beginning, nor middle nor end.
17. I see Thee with diadems, maces, discus, shiningly effulgent everywhere, blazing all around like the burning fire and the sun, dazzling to the sight and immeasurable.
18. Thou art the Imperishable, the Supreme, the One to be known. Thou art the Supreme Refuge of this universe; Thou art the ever unchanging Guardian of the Eternal Dharma (religion); Thou art, I know, the Ancient Being.
19. I see The without beginning beginning, middle or end, with infinite power, with numberless arms, the sun and moon as Thien eyes, Thy mouth as the blazing fire, heating this universe with Thine own radiance.
20. By Thee alone the space between heven and earth and all the quarters is pervaded. O Great Soul, seeing this, Thy wonderful and terrifying Form, the three worlds are stricken with fear.
21. Verily, these hosts of Devas are entering into Thee; some in fear, praising Thee with folded hands. The host of great Rishis and Siddhas, saying "Svasti" (peace, may it be well), are singing Thy glory in beautiful hymns.
22. The Rudras, Adityas, Basus, Sadhyas, the Vixvas, the Asvins, the Maruts, the Ushmapas, the host of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, Siddhas, they are all looking at Thee wonderstruck.
23. O Mighty-armed, seeing Thine immeasurable form, with many mouths and eyes, with many arms, thighs and feet, with many loins, and fearful with many large teeth, the worlds and I, as well, are agitated with terror.
24. O Vishnu, seeing Thee touching the sky, shining in many colors, with mouths wide open, and with large blazing eyes, my heart is terrified and I find neither peace nor tranquillity.
25. O Lord of gods! seeing Thy mouths, terrible with long teeth, blazing like the fires of destruction, I know not the four quarters, nor do I find any peace. Have mercy, O Abode of the universe!
26. All these sons of Dhritarashtra, with the multitude of monarchs, Bhishma, Drona and Sutaputra (Karna), as well as our own principal warriors,
27. Enter rushingly into Thy mouths, terrible with long teeth and fearful to look at. Some are seen hanging between Thy teeth, with their heads crushed to powder.
28. As the many torrents of rivers rush towards the ocean, similarly do these heroes amongst men enter into Thy mouths, blazing fiercely on all sides.
29. As the moths rush into the burning fire with headlong speed for destruction, in the same manner do these creatures rush into Thy mouths with headlong speed, only to perish.
30. O Vishnu! swallowing all the worlds with Thy blazing flame. Thou art licking all around. Thy fierce, radiant rays, filling the whole universe, are burning.
31. Tell me, who art Thou, in this terrible Form? Salutation to Thee! O Supreme Deity, have mercy! O Primeval One, I desire to know Thee, for indeed I know not Thy purpose.
The Blessed Lord said:
32. I am eternal, world-destroying Time, manifested here for the destruction of these people. Even without Thee, none of these warriors, arrayed here in the hostile armies, shall live.
33. Therefore, do thou arise and acquire glory. Conquering the enemies, enjoy the unrivalled kingdom. By Me alone have they already been slain; be thou merely an instrumental cause, O Savyasachin (Arjuna).
34. Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, as well as the other brave warriors, are already slain by Me. Do thou kill and be not distressed by fear. Fight! and thou shalt conquer thine enemies in battle.
Sanjaya said:
35. Having heard these words of Keshava (Krishna), (Arjuna) the diadem-wearer, with folded hands, trembling, prostrating himself, again spoke to Krishna in a choked voice, bowing down, overwhelmed with fear.
Arjuna said:
36. O Lord of the senses (Krishna), it is right that the world delights and rejoices in Thy glory. The Rakshasas (demonic creatures) fly with fear in all directions and the host of Siddhas bow down to Thee inadoration.
37. Why should they not bow down to Thee, O Mighty Being, O Infinite One, O Lord of the gods, O Abode of the universe, greater than Braham and even the primeval cause of Brahma; for Thou art the Imperishable; (Thou art) Existence and Non-existence and all that is beyond.
38. O boundless Form, Thou art the Primeval Deity, the Ancient Being, Thou art the Supreme Refuge of this universe; Thou art the Knower, the One to be known and the Supreme Abode. By Thee alone is this universe pervaded.
39. Thou art Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the Moon; Thou art the Lord of creatures and the great Grandsire. Salutations to Thee, my salutations a thousand times, again and again my salutations to Thee!
40. Salutations to Thee before, salutations to Thee behind, salutations to Thee on all sides! O All, infinite in power, and immeasurable in valor, Thou pervadest all, therefore Thou art All.
41. Not knowing this Thy glory and regardig Thee merely as a friend, whatever I may have said presumptuously, out of either carelessness or fondness, addressing Thee as "O Krishna," "O Yadava," "O Friend";
42. O Changeless One, inwhatever manner I may have been disrepsectful to Thee, in jesting, in walking, in reposing, sitting, or at meals, alone, or in the presence of others; O Unfathomable One, I implore Thee to forgive all that.
43. Thou art the Father of the moving and unmoving world, and its object of worship; greater than the great, O Incomparable Power, no one in the three worlds exists equal to Thee. How can, then, anyone excell Thee?
44. O Adorable Lord! prostrating my body in adoration, I beg Thy forgiveness. O God, as a father forgives his son, a friend his dear friend, a beloved one his love, even so do Thou forgive me!
45. O God, joyous am I to have seen (Thy form) which I never saw before; yet my heart is agitated with terror, therefore show me that Form of Thine. O God of gods! O Abode of the universe, have mercy.
46. I desire to see Thee as before, with diadem, mace and discus. O Universal Form of thousand arms, do Thou manifest Thyself in that same Four-armed Form (form of Vishnu).
The Blessed Lord said:
47. O Arjuna, mercifully have I shown thee this Supreme Form by My own Yoga power. This effulgent, infinite, primeval, great universal Form of Mine, which has not been seen by anyone else before thee.
48. O great hero of the Kurus, not by the study of the sacred Vedas or by sacrifice, not by charity or rituals, not be severe austerities, am I visible in such Form in this world of men to any other than thee.
49. Be not frightened, nor bewildered, having seen this terrific Form of Mine, getting rid of thy fear and with gladdened heart, behold thou again this My former Form.
Sanjaya said:
50. Vasudeva (Krishna), having thus spoken to Arjuna, showed again His own Form. The Great-souled One, having assumed again His gentle Form, pacified him (Arjuna) who was terrified.
Arjuna said:
51. O Janardana, seeing this, Thy gentle human Form, now my thoughts are collected and I have recovered myself.
The Blessed Lord said:
52. This Form of Mine which thou hast seen is very difficult to perceive; even gods ever long to behold this Form.
53. Neither by the Vedas, nor by austerities, nor by charitable gifts, nor by sacrifice, can I be seen as thou hast seen Me,
54. But by single-hearted devotion alone I can be known in this manner, O Arjuna, and perceived in reality and also entered into, O Parantapa.
55. O Pandava, he who works for Me, has Me for his highest goal, is devoted to Me, is free from attachment and bears enmity towards no creature, he enters into Me.
Here ends the Eleventh Chapter called "Vishya-Rupa-Darsanam, or The Vision of the Universal Form"
Arjuna said:
1. The supremely profound word regarding Self-knowledge, spoken by Thee out of compassion for me, has dispelled this my delusion.
2. O Lotus-Eyed (Krishna), I have heard at length from Thee of the creation and dissolution of beings, as well as of Thine inexhaustible glory.
3. O Great Lord, as Thou hast declared Thyself, so it is. O Supreme Being, I desire to see Thy Godly Form.
4. O Lord, if Thou thinkest me able (worthy) to see that (Form), then, O Lord of Yogis, show me Thine Infinite Self.
The Blessed One said:
5. Behold, O Partha, My various celestial Forms, of different colors and shapes, by hundreds and by thousands.
6. O descendant of Bharata, behold the Adityas, the Rudras, the Vasus, the twin Asvins and the Maruts. Behold many wonders that were not seen before.
7. O gudakesha (Arjuna), behold in this body of Mine the entire universe together, with all that is moving and unmoving and whatever else thou desirest to perceive.
8. But with these eyes of thine thou canst not see Me; therefore I give thee Divine sight. Behold my Supreme Yoga power!
Sanjaya said:
9. O King, having spoken thus, the great Lord of Yoga, Hari (Krishna), then showed to Partha His Supreme Godly Form.
10. With many faces and eyes, with many wondrous sights, with many celestial ornaments and with many celestial weapons unlifted.
11. Wearing celestial garlands and garments, anointed with celestial fragrant perfumes; the all-wonderful Deity, infinite, facing the universe everywhere.
12. If the effulgence of a thousand suns were to shine at once in the sky, that might resemble the splendor that great Being.
13. Then the son of Pandu (Arjuna) saw the entire universe resting together, with its manifold divisions, in the body of the God of gods.
14. Then Dhanajaya, overpowered with wonder, and his hair standing on end, bending down his head in awe to the Deity, spoke with folded hands:
Arjuna said:
15. O God! in Thy body I see all the gods, as well as multitudes of all kinds of beings; the Lord Brahma, seated on the lotus throne, al the Rishis and all the celestial serpents.
16. O Lord of the universe, O Universal Form, I see Thee with manifold arms, bellies, mouths and eyes, boundless on every side; neither do I see Thy beginning, nor middle nor end.
17. I see Thee with diadems, maces, discus, shiningly effulgent everywhere, blazing all around like the burning fire and the sun, dazzling to the sight and immeasurable.
18. Thou art the Imperishable, the Supreme, the One to be known. Thou art the Supreme Refuge of this universe; Thou art the ever unchanging Guardian of the Eternal Dharma (religion); Thou art, I know, the Ancient Being.
19. I see The without beginning beginning, middle or end, with infinite power, with numberless arms, the sun and moon as Thien eyes, Thy mouth as the blazing fire, heating this universe with Thine own radiance.
20. By Thee alone the space between heven and earth and all the quarters is pervaded. O Great Soul, seeing this, Thy wonderful and terrifying Form, the three worlds are stricken with fear.
21. Verily, these hosts of Devas are entering into Thee; some in fear, praising Thee with folded hands. The host of great Rishis and Siddhas, saying "Svasti" (peace, may it be well), are singing Thy glory in beautiful hymns.
22. The Rudras, Adityas, Basus, Sadhyas, the Vixvas, the Asvins, the Maruts, the Ushmapas, the host of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, Siddhas, they are all looking at Thee wonderstruck.
23. O Mighty-armed, seeing Thine immeasurable form, with many mouths and eyes, with many arms, thighs and feet, with many loins, and fearful with many large teeth, the worlds and I, as well, are agitated with terror.
24. O Vishnu, seeing Thee touching the sky, shining in many colors, with mouths wide open, and with large blazing eyes, my heart is terrified and I find neither peace nor tranquillity.
25. O Lord of gods! seeing Thy mouths, terrible with long teeth, blazing like the fires of destruction, I know not the four quarters, nor do I find any peace. Have mercy, O Abode of the universe!
26. All these sons of Dhritarashtra, with the multitude of monarchs, Bhishma, Drona and Sutaputra (Karna), as well as our own principal warriors,
27. Enter rushingly into Thy mouths, terrible with long teeth and fearful to look at. Some are seen hanging between Thy teeth, with their heads crushed to powder.
28. As the many torrents of rivers rush towards the ocean, similarly do these heroes amongst men enter into Thy mouths, blazing fiercely on all sides.
29. As the moths rush into the burning fire with headlong speed for destruction, in the same manner do these creatures rush into Thy mouths with headlong speed, only to perish.
30. O Vishnu! swallowing all the worlds with Thy blazing flame. Thou art licking all around. Thy fierce, radiant rays, filling the whole universe, are burning.
31. Tell me, who art Thou, in this terrible Form? Salutation to Thee! O Supreme Deity, have mercy! O Primeval One, I desire to know Thee, for indeed I know not Thy purpose.
The Blessed Lord said:
32. I am eternal, world-destroying Time, manifested here for the destruction of these people. Even without Thee, none of these warriors, arrayed here in the hostile armies, shall live.
33. Therefore, do thou arise and acquire glory. Conquering the enemies, enjoy the unrivalled kingdom. By Me alone have they already been slain; be thou merely an instrumental cause, O Savyasachin (Arjuna).
34. Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, as well as the other brave warriors, are already slain by Me. Do thou kill and be not distressed by fear. Fight! and thou shalt conquer thine enemies in battle.
Sanjaya said:
35. Having heard these words of Keshava (Krishna), (Arjuna) the diadem-wearer, with folded hands, trembling, prostrating himself, again spoke to Krishna in a choked voice, bowing down, overwhelmed with fear.
Arjuna said:
36. O Lord of the senses (Krishna), it is right that the world delights and rejoices in Thy glory. The Rakshasas (demonic creatures) fly with fear in all directions and the host of Siddhas bow down to Thee inadoration.
37. Why should they not bow down to Thee, O Mighty Being, O Infinite One, O Lord of the gods, O Abode of the universe, greater than Braham and even the primeval cause of Brahma; for Thou art the Imperishable; (Thou art) Existence and Non-existence and all that is beyond.
38. O boundless Form, Thou art the Primeval Deity, the Ancient Being, Thou art the Supreme Refuge of this universe; Thou art the Knower, the One to be known and the Supreme Abode. By Thee alone is this universe pervaded.
39. Thou art Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the Moon; Thou art the Lord of creatures and the great Grandsire. Salutations to Thee, my salutations a thousand times, again and again my salutations to Thee!
40. Salutations to Thee before, salutations to Thee behind, salutations to Thee on all sides! O All, infinite in power, and immeasurable in valor, Thou pervadest all, therefore Thou art All.
41. Not knowing this Thy glory and regardig Thee merely as a friend, whatever I may have said presumptuously, out of either carelessness or fondness, addressing Thee as "O Krishna," "O Yadava," "O Friend";
42. O Changeless One, inwhatever manner I may have been disrepsectful to Thee, in jesting, in walking, in reposing, sitting, or at meals, alone, or in the presence of others; O Unfathomable One, I implore Thee to forgive all that.
43. Thou art the Father of the moving and unmoving world, and its object of worship; greater than the great, O Incomparable Power, no one in the three worlds exists equal to Thee. How can, then, anyone excell Thee?
44. O Adorable Lord! prostrating my body in adoration, I beg Thy forgiveness. O God, as a father forgives his son, a friend his dear friend, a beloved one his love, even so do Thou forgive me!
45. O God, joyous am I to have seen (Thy form) which I never saw before; yet my heart is agitated with terror, therefore show me that Form of Thine. O God of gods! O Abode of the universe, have mercy.
46. I desire to see Thee as before, with diadem, mace and discus. O Universal Form of thousand arms, do Thou manifest Thyself in that same Four-armed Form (form of Vishnu).
The Blessed Lord said:
47. O Arjuna, mercifully have I shown thee this Supreme Form by My own Yoga power. This effulgent, infinite, primeval, great universal Form of Mine, which has not been seen by anyone else before thee.
48. O great hero of the Kurus, not by the study of the sacred Vedas or by sacrifice, not by charity or rituals, not be severe austerities, am I visible in such Form in this world of men to any other than thee.
49. Be not frightened, nor bewildered, having seen this terrific Form of Mine, getting rid of thy fear and with gladdened heart, behold thou again this My former Form.
Sanjaya said:
50. Vasudeva (Krishna), having thus spoken to Arjuna, showed again His own Form. The Great-souled One, having assumed again His gentle Form, pacified him (Arjuna) who was terrified.
Arjuna said:
51. O Janardana, seeing this, Thy gentle human Form, now my thoughts are collected and I have recovered myself.
The Blessed Lord said:
52. This Form of Mine which thou hast seen is very difficult to perceive; even gods ever long to behold this Form.
53. Neither by the Vedas, nor by austerities, nor by charitable gifts, nor by sacrifice, can I be seen as thou hast seen Me,
54. But by single-hearted devotion alone I can be known in this manner, O Arjuna, and perceived in reality and also entered into, O Parantapa.
55. O Pandava, he who works for Me, has Me for his highest goal, is devoted to Me, is free from attachment and bears enmity towards no creature, he enters into Me.
Here ends the Eleventh Chapter called "Vishya-Rupa-Darsanam, or The Vision of the Universal Form"
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Text source: Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita. Translated by Swami Paramananda.
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