Seeing the Whole Thing

Chapter 11 · Verse 1

मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम्।यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम॥

Arjuna said: Out of kindness to me you have spoken the highest secret, the one about the self. With those words my confusion is gone.

He says the confusion has gone.

Chapter 11 · Verse 2

भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया।त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम्॥

I have heard from you in detail how beings come into being and pass away, lotus-eyed one, and about your greatness, which does not fade.

He summarises what he has been told, accurately, before asking for anything.

Chapter 11 · Verse 3

एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर।द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम॥

It is just as you have described yourself, supreme lord. Now I want to see your form as the ruler of all, highest person.

He believes it.

Chapter 11 · Verse 4

मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो।योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयाऽत्मानमव्ययम्॥

If you think I am able to see it, lord of yoga, then show me yourself, you who do not pass away.

The condition he attaches is about himself, not about the request.

Chapter 11 · Verse 5

पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः।नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च॥

Krishna said: Then see my forms, Arjuna - in hundreds, in thousands. Many kinds, divine, in many colours and shapes.

No hesitation and no conditions.

Chapter 11 · Verse 6

पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा ।बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत॥

See the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Aśvins, and the Maruts. See many wonders never seen before, Arjuna.

He names the families of gods one after another, like somebody pointing round a crowded room.

Chapter 11 · Verse 7

इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम्।मम देहे गुडाकेश यच्चान्यद्द्रष्टुमिच्छसि॥

See here, standing in one place, the whole world together - all that moves and all that does not - here in my body, Arjuna, and whatever else you wish to see.

Ihaika-sthaṃ jagat kṛtsnam - the whole world, standing in one place.

Chapter 11 · Verse 8

न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा।दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्॥

But you will not be able to see me with these eyes of yours. I give you a divine eye. Now look at my power of joining.

The equipment has to be changed first.

Chapter 11 · Verse 9

एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः।दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम्॥

Sañjaya said: Having said this, king, the great lord of yoga then showed Arjuna his highest form as ruler of all.

The narrator steps in, and it matters who he is talking to.

Chapter 11 · Verse 10

अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम्।अनेकदिव्याभरणं दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम्॥

With many mouths and eyes, with many astonishing sights, with many divine ornaments, and many divine weapons raised.

The description begins, and the first word of nearly every phrase is many.

Chapter 11 · Verse 11

दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्।सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवमनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम्॥

Wearing divine garlands and robes, anointed with divine fragrance - the god of every wonder, without limit, with faces turned in all directions.

The last phrase is where the description stops being beautiful.

Chapter 11 · Verse 12

दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता।यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः॥

If the light of a thousand suns were to rise in the sky at once, that might be something like the brightness of this great being.

Sañjaya gives up on description and reaches for a comparison.

Chapter 11 · Verse 13

तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा।अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा॥

There, standing in one place in the body of the god of gods, the son of Pāṇḍu saw the whole world, divided into its many kinds.

The promise from verse seven is kept, exactly.

Chapter 11 · Verse 14

ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः।प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत॥

Then Arjuna, filled with wonder, his hair standing on end, bowed his head to the god, put his palms together, and spoke.

His body responds before he does.

Chapter 11 · Verse 15

पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान्।ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थ मृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान्॥

Arjuna said: I see all the gods in your body, god, and the whole host of every kind of being. I see Brahmā the lord seated on his lotus, and all the sages, and the divine serpents.

He starts naming what he sees, and the first word is paśyāmi - I see.

Chapter 11 · Verse 16

अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम्।नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप॥

I see you everywhere, with countless arms and bellies and mouths and eyes, your form without limit. I see no end in you, no middle, and no beginning, lord of all, form of all.

The listing breaks down here.

Chapter 11 · Verse 17

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च तेजोराशिं सर्वतोदीप्तिमन्तम्।पश्यामि त्वां दुर्निरीक्ष्यं समन्ता द्दीप्तानलार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम्॥

I see you crowned, with mace and discus, a mass of brightness blazing on every side. I can hardly look at you - glowing like fire, like the sun, past all measure.

Durnirīkṣyam - hard to look at.

Chapter 11 · Verse 18

त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्।त्वमव्ययः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे॥

You are the imperishable, the highest thing to be known. You are the final resting place of all this. You do not pass away, you are the guardian of the lasting order - you are the eternal person. This is what I think.

In the middle of being frightened, he states a conclusion.

Chapter 11 · Verse 19

अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्।पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रम् स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम्॥

I see you without beginning, middle or end, with endless power, with countless arms, the sun and moon your eyes, your mouth a blazing fire, burning this whole world with your own heat.

The sun and the moon, as eyes.

Chapter 11 · Verse 20

द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः।दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन्॥

The space between earth and sky, and all directions, is filled by you alone. Seeing this astonishing, terrible form of yours, the three worlds are shaking, great one.

Ugram - terrible, fierce.

Chapter 11 · Verse 21

अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति ।स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः॥

The hosts of gods are entering you. Some, afraid, praise you with their palms together. Crowds of great sages and perfected ones cry out may it be well, and praise you with abundant hymns.

Even the gods are frightened.

Chapter 11 · Verse 22

रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या विश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च ।गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घा वीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे॥

The Rudras, Ādityas, Vasus and Sādhyas, the Viśvedevas, the two Aśvins, the Maruts and the ancestors, the hosts of gandharvas and yakṣas and demons and perfected ones - all of them are looking at you, astonished.

A roll-call of everyone in the universe, and they are all doing the same thing.

Chapter 11 · Verse 23

रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम्।बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालं दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाऽहम्॥

Seeing your great form, with its many mouths and eyes, many arms and thighs and feet, many bellies, terrible with many teeth - the worlds are shaking, and so am I.

Tathāham - and so am I.

Chapter 11 · Verse 24

नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम्।दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो॥

Seeing you touching the sky, blazing in many colours, your mouths open, your great eyes burning - my inmost self is shaking. I can find no steadiness and no peace, Viṣṇu.

Dhṛtiṃ na vindāmi śamaṃ ca - I do not find firmness, or quiet.

Chapter 11 · Verse 25

दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि।दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास॥

Seeing your mouths with their terrible teeth, like the fire at the end of time, I do not know the directions and I find no shelter. Have mercy, lord of gods, home of the worlds.

Diśo na jāne - I do not know which way is which.

Chapter 11 · Verse 26

अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः।भीष्मो द्रोणः सूतपुत्रस्तथाऽसौ सहास्मदीयैरपि योधमुख्यैः॥

And all these sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, with the crowds of kings, and Bhīṣma and Droṇa and Karṇa, along with the chief warriors on our side too…

The vision stops being general and becomes specific.

Chapter 11 · Verse 27

वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि।केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु संदृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः॥

… they are rushing into your mouths, terrible with teeth, and frightening. Some are caught between your teeth, their heads crushed to powder.

This is the most violent image in the book, and softening it would be a lie about the text.

Chapter 11 · Verse 28

यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः समुद्रमेवाभिमुखा द्रवन्ति ।तथा तवामी नरलोकवीरा विशन्ति वक्त्राण्यभिविज्वलन्ति॥

As the many rushing waters of rivers run toward the sea, so these heroes of the human world enter your blazing mouths.

The image changes, and it is gentler than what came before.

Chapter 11 · Verse 29

यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः।तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोका स्तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः॥

As moths rush into a burning flame at full speed, to their destruction, so these worlds rush into your mouths at full speed, to theirs.

Moths and a lamp.

Chapter 11 · Verse 30

लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ता ल्लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः।तेजोभिरापूर्य जगत्समग्रं भासस्तवोग्राः प्रतपन्ति विष्णो॥

You are licking up all the worlds on every side with your flaming mouths, swallowing them. Your fierce rays fill the whole world with light and scorch it, Viṣṇu.

The last line puts the two halves together: the same rays fill the world and burn it.

Chapter 11 · Verse 31

आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद।विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम्॥

Tell me who you are, in this fierce form. I bow to you, best of gods - have mercy. I want to understand you, the first one, because I do not grasp what you are doing.

After sixteen verses of description, a question.

Chapter 11 · Verse 32

कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः।ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः॥

Krishna said: I am time, grown great, come forth to gather in the worlds. Even without you, none of these warriors drawn up in the opposing ranks will remain.

Kālo 'smi - I am time.

Chapter 11 · Verse 33

तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्।मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन्॥

So stand up, win fame, defeat your enemies, enjoy a prosperous kingdom. They have already been struck down by me. Be the occasion only, left-handed archer.

Nimitta-mātram - the occasion only.

Chapter 11 · Verse 34

द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथाऽन्यानपि योधवीरान्।मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान्॥

Droṇa and Bhīṣma and Jayadratha, and Karṇa too, and the other warriors - they are already struck down by me. Strike, and do not be shaken. Fight. You will defeat your rivals in battle.

He names them.

Chapter 11 · Verse 35

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी।नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य॥

Sañjaya said: Hearing these words of Krishna, the crowned one, trembling, put his palms together and bowed. He spoke to Krishna again, in a choked voice, bowing low, terrified.

Sa-gadgadam - with a voice breaking up.

Chapter 11 · Verse 36

स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या जगत् प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च।रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्ति सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः॥

Arjuna said: It is right, Krishna, that the world delights in praising you and is drawn to you. The demons flee in every direction in fear, and all the perfected ones bow.

Sthāne - it is fitting.

Chapter 11 · Verse 37

कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन् गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे।अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत्॥

And why should they not bow to you, great one? You are greater even than Brahmā, the first maker. Endless lord of gods, home of the worlds - you are the imperishable, what is and what is not, and what is beyond both.

Sad-asat tat paraṃ yat - what is, what is not, and what is beyond both.

Chapter 11 · Verse 38

त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराण स्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्।वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप॥

You are the first god, the ancient person. You are the final resting place of all this. You are the knower and the thing to be known, and the highest home. The whole universe is spread out by you, you of endless form.

Vettāsi vedyaṃ ca - you are the knower and the known.

Chapter 11 · Verse 39

वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च।नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वः पुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते॥

You are the wind, the lord of endings, fire, the lord of waters, the moon, the father of creatures, and the great-grandfather. Honour to you, a thousand times, and again, and again, honour to you.

The naming becomes repetition.

Chapter 11 · Verse 40

नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व।अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः॥

Honour to you from in front and from behind, honour to you from every side - you who are everything. Your power is endless, your reach beyond measure. You pervade it all, and so you are all of it.

He bows in front, behind, and then gives up and bows in every direction.

Chapter 11 · Verse 41

सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति।अजानता महिमानं तवेदं मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि॥

Whatever I said carelessly, thinking of you as a friend - hey Krishna, hey Yādava, hey friend - not knowing this greatness of yours, out of carelessness or out of affection…

He quotes himself.

Chapter 11 · Verse 42

यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु।एकोऽथवाप्यच्युत तत्समक्षं तत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम्॥

And if I was disrespectful to you as a joke, while we were resting or sitting or eating, alone or in front of others - I ask you to forgive it, you who cannot be measured.

The list is deliberately ordinary.

Chapter 11 · Verse 43

पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान्।न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव॥

You are the father of this world, of all that moves and all that does not. You are what it should honour, its weightiest teacher. There is nothing equal to you - how could anything be greater, in all three worlds, you whose power has no likeness?

He reaches for the largest words he has: father, teacher, beyond compare.

Chapter 11 · Verse 44

तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम्।पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम्॥

So I bow down, I lay my body before you, and I ask you for your kindness, lord worth praising. As a father bears with a son, as a friend with a friend, as a lover with the one he loves - bear with me, god.

Three comparisons, and they are the warmest words in the book.

Chapter 11 · Verse 45

अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे।तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपं प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास॥

I am glad to have seen what was never seen before, and my mind is shaking with fear. Show me that other form of yours, god. Have mercy, lord of gods, home of the worlds.

Both at once, and he says so plainly.

Chapter 11 · Verse 46

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्त मिच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव।तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेन सहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते॥

I want to see you as you were - crowned, with your mace, your discus in your hand. Take that four-armed form again, you of a thousand arms, you whose form is everything.

He asks for something specific, by its details.

Chapter 11 · Verse 47

मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात्।तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम्॥

Krishna said: By my grace, Arjuna, and by my own power, I have shown you this highest form - made of light, universal, endless, the first - which nobody but you has ever seen.

Mayā prasannena - by me, being pleased.

Chapter 11 · Verse 48

न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः।एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर॥

Not by the Vedas, not by sacrifices, not by study, not by gifts, not by rituals, not by fierce discipline can I be seen in this form in the world of men by anyone but you, great hero of the Kurus.

Five methods, listed and ruled out one by one.

Chapter 11 · Verse 49

मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम्।व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य॥

Do not be shaken, and do not be bewildered, at having seen this fearful form of mine. Let your fear go. With a glad mind, look at this form of mine again.

He calls it fearful himself.

Chapter 11 · Verse 50

इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः।आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनं भूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा॥

Sañjaya said: Having spoken this way to Arjuna, Krishna showed his own form again. The great one comforted him in his fear, becoming once more the one with the gentle shape.

Saumya-vapuḥ - the gentle-bodied one.

Chapter 11 · Verse 51

दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तवसौम्यं जनार्दन।इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः॥

Arjuna said: Seeing this human form of yours, gentle again, Krishna, I have come back to myself. My mind is my own again and I am as I was.

Prakṛtiṃ gataḥ - returned to my own nature.

Chapter 11 · Verse 52

सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम।देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः॥

Krishna said: This form of mine that you have seen is very hard to see. Even the gods are always longing for a sight of it.

Su-durdarśam - very hard to see indeed.

Chapter 11 · Verse 53

नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया।शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा॥

Not by the Vedas, not by discipline, not by giving, not by sacrifice can I be seen in the way that you have seen me.

He says it again.

Chapter 11 · Verse 54

भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन ।ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप॥

But by devotion to me and nothing else, Arjuna, I can be known in this way, and seen as I am, and entered into.

Three verbs, and the third is the one nobody expects.

Chapter 11 · Verse 55

मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः।निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु यः स मामेति पाण्डव॥

Whoever does my work, who holds me highest, who is devoted to me, free of attachment, without enmity toward any being - that person comes to me, Arjuna.

Five things, and the last one is the one to notice.