Arjuna's Gratitude: Bhagavad Gita Wisdom & Clarity

Arjuna said: By the words of supreme secret concerning the Self, which You have spoken out of grace towards me, this delusion of mine is gone. ॥

Arjuna said: My delusion has been dispelled by the supremely confidential discourse about the Self that You have given me out of grace. ॥ 1 ॥

For I have heard from You in detail of the origin and dissolution of beings, O lotus-eyed, and also of Your imperishable greatness.

Because, O lotus-eyed one! I have heard from you in detail about the origin and dissolution of beings, and I have also heard about your imperishable glory.

॥ 2 ॥

Even as You have described Yourself, O Supreme Lord, so it is; (yet) I desire to behold Your form as the all-powerful Ruler, O Supreme Person.

O Supreme Lord! As you describe yourself, it is exactly so; but O Supreme Person! I wish to directly see your divine form, which is endowed with knowledge, power, strength, vigor, and splendor. ॥ 3 ॥

If You, O Lord, think it possible for me to behold it, then, O Lord of Yoga, reveal to me Your immutable Self.

O Lord! If you think that it is possible for me to see that form of yours, then, O Lord of Yoga! Show me that imperishable form. ॥ 4 ॥

The Blessed Lord said: Behold, O Partha, My forms, hundreds and thousands in number, various in kind, divine, and of various colors and shapes. ॥

The Blessed Lord said: O Partha! Now behold my hundreds and thousands of diverse and multicolored, divine forms. ॥ 5 ॥

Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Asvins, and also the Maruts; behold many wonders never seen before, O Bharata.

Srimad Bhagavad Gita O descendant of Bharata, Arjuna! Behold in me the Adityas, that is, the twelve sons of Aditi, the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, the two Ashwini Kumaras, and the forty-nine Marut ganas, and also behold many wonderful forms never seen before. ॥ 6 ॥

Behold here today the whole world, including the moving and the unmoving, standing in one place in My body, O Gudakesa, and whatever else you desire to see.

O Arjuna! Now see in this body of mine the entire universe, including the moving and non-moving, situated in one place, and also whatever else you wish to see. ॥ 7 ॥

But you are not able to behold Me with these eyes of your own; I give you divine sight; behold My Yoga power as the all-powerful Ruler.

But you are certainly not capable of seeing me with these natural eyes of yours; therefore, I give you divine, that is, supernatural sight; with this, behold my divine yogic power. ॥ 8 ॥

Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus, O King, Hari, the great Lord of Yoga, then revealed to Partha His supreme form as the all-powerful Ruler.

Sanjaya said: O King! After saying this, the great Lord of Yoga and destroyer of all sins, the Lord, then showed Arjuna the divine form endowed with supreme glory. ॥ 9 ॥

With many mouths and eyes, with many wonderful sights, with many divine ornaments, with many divine weapons uplifted,
Wearing divine garlands and vestments, anointed with divine perfumes, full of all wonders, the limitless God with faces in all directions.

Arjuna saw the Supreme God, the Supreme Lord, in the form of the universe, with many faces and eyes, with many wonderful sights, adorned with many divine ornaments, holding many divine weapons in his hands, wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances all over his body, full of all kinds of wonders, limitless, and facing all directions. ॥ 10-11 ॥

If the splendor of a thousand suns were to blaze forth all at once in the sky, that might resemble the splendor of that exalted Being.

If the light produced by the simultaneous rising of a thousand suns in the sky were to occur, it might perhaps be similar to the light of that universal form of the Supreme Soul. ॥ 12 ॥

There Arjuna beheld the whole world, divided into many parts, standing in one place in the body of the God of gods.

At that time, the son of Pandu, Arjuna, saw the entire universe, divided into many forms, that is, separately, situated in one place in the body of the God of gods, Shri Krishna Bhagavan. ॥ 13 ॥

Then, filled with wonder, with hair standing on end, Dhananjaya bowed his head to the God and spoke with joined hands.

Thereafter, Arjuna, astonished and with his hair standing on end, bowed his head with reverence and devotion to the luminous universal form of the Supreme Soul, joined his hands, and spoke: ॥ 14 ॥

Arjuna said: I behold all the gods in Your body, O God, and also hosts of various classes of beings; Brahma, the lord (of creation), seated on the lotus, the Rishis all, and the celestial serpents.

Arjuna said: O God! I see in your body all the gods, as well as the multitudes of various beings, Brahma seated on the lotus seat, Mahadeva, and all the sages and divine serpents. ॥ 15 ॥

With many arms, bellies, mouths, and eyes, I behold You, of boundless form on every side; I see neither Your end nor Your middle, nor also Your beginning, O Lord of the universe, O Cosmic Form..

O Lord of the entire universe! I see you with many arms, stomachs, mouths, and eyes, and with infinite forms on all sides. O Universal Form! I see neither your end, nor your middle, nor even your beginning. ॥ 16 ॥

I behold You with crown, mace, and discus, a mass of radiance shining everywhere, very hard to look at, blazing all around like a burning fire and the sun, and immeasurable.

I see you with a crown, mace, and discus, a mass of radiance shining everywhere, difficult to behold, with a light like a blazing fire and the sun, and immeasurable in form. ॥ 17 ॥

You are the Imperishable, the Supreme One to be realized; You are the supreme refuge of this universe; You are the Immutable, the protector of the eternal Dharma; You are, I believe, the ancient Person.

You alone are the supreme imperishable Brahman, the ultimate object of knowledge; you alone are the supreme refuge of this universe; you are the protector of the eternal dharma, and you are the imperishable, eternal being. This is my opinion. ॥ 18 ॥

Without beginning, middle, or end, of infinite power, of endless arms, with the sun and moon as Your eyes, I behold You with Your mouth as a blazing fire, burning up this universe with Your radiance.

I see you without beginning, end, or middle, endowed with infinite power, with infinite arms, with the sun and moon as your eyes, with your mouth as a blazing fire, and scorching this universe with your radiance. ॥ 19 ॥

By You alone is filled the space between the earth and the heavens and all the quarters; having beheld this Your wondrous and terrible form, the three worlds are trembling with fear, O Exalted One.

O Exalted One! This entire space between heaven and earth, as well as all directions, is filled by you alone, and seeing this wondrous and terrible form of yours, the three worlds are greatly distressed. ॥ 20 ॥

Into You enter these hosts of gods, while some, seized with fear, extol You with joined palms; the hosts of Maharishis and Siddhas cry, "May it be well," and praise You with copious hymns.

Those groups of gods enter into you, and some, seized with fear, praise you with folded hands, and the communities of great sages and perfected beings, saying 'May there be well-being,' praise you with excellent hymns. ॥ 21 ॥

The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, and all the Sadhyas, the Visvedevas, the two Asvins, the Maruts, and the Ushmapas, the hosts of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, and Siddhas, all gaze at You in amazement..

The eleven Rudras, the twelve Adityas, the eight Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Visvedevas, the Ashwini Kumaras, the Maruts, and the community of ancestors, as well as the communities of Gandharvas, Yakshas, demons, and perfected beings, all look at you in amazement. ॥ 22 ॥

Having beheld Your mighty form, with many mouths and eyes, O mighty-armed, with many arms, thighs, and feet, with many bellies, and fearful with many teeth, the worlds are terrified, and so am I.

O mighty-armed one! Seeing your great form with many mouths and eyes, many arms, thighs, and feet, many stomachs, and extremely terrifying with many teeth, all the worlds are agitated, and so am I. ॥ 23 ॥

Having beheld You touching the sky, blazing, of many colors, with opened mouths, and large blazing eyes, I am terrified at heart, and find neither courage nor peace, O Vishnu.

Because, O Vishnu! Seeing you touching the sky, radiant, with many colors, with gaping mouths and shining wide eyes, I, with a terrified heart, find neither courage nor peace. ॥ 24 ॥

Having beheld Your mouths, fearful with teeth, blazing like the fire of cosmic dissolution, I know not the directions, nor do I find peace; have mercy, O Lord of gods, O Abode of the universe.

Seeing your mouths, terrifying with teeth and blazing like the fire of cosmic dissolution, I do not know the directions, nor do I find happiness. Therefore, O Lord of gods! O Abode of the universe! Be pleased. ॥ 25 ॥

All the sons of Dhritarashtra, with hosts of kings, Bhishma, Drona, and that Karna, together with the chief warriors of our side also,॥
Are rushing into Your mouths, fearful with teeth and terrible to behold; some are seen sticking in the gaps between Your teeth, with their heads crushed.

All those sons of Dhritarashtra, along with the multitude of kings, are entering into you, and Bhishma Pitamah, Dronacharya, and that Karna, along with the chief warriors of our side, are all rushing with great speed into your terrifying mouths, which are dreadful because of their teeth, and some are seen stuck between your teeth with their heads crushed. ॥ 26-27 ॥

As the many torrents of rivers rush towards the ocean, so do these heroes of the world of men enter Your blazing mouths..

Just as many streams of water naturally flow towards the ocean, that is, enter the ocean, so also these heroes of the human world are entering your blazing mouths. ॥ 28 ॥

As moths rush with great speed into a blazing fire for their destruction, so also these men rush with great speed into Your mouths for their destruction.

Just as moths, deluded, rush into a blazing fire with great speed to be destroyed, so also all these people are rushing with great speed into your mouths for their own destruction. ॥ 29 ॥

You are licking up all the worlds on every side, devouring them with Your flaming mouths; Your radiance fills the whole world with its splendor; Your fierce rays are burning, O Vishnu.

You are licking up all those worlds from all sides, devouring them with your blazing mouths again and again, O Vishnu! Your fierce light is filling the entire universe with radiance and scorching it. ॥ 30 ॥

Declare to me who You are, so terrible in form; salutations to You, O God Supreme; have mercy; I desire to know You, the Primal One; for I do not understand Your purpose.

Tell me who you are, with this terrible form? O Supreme among the gods! Salutations to you. Be pleased. I wish to know you, the original being, because I do not know your purpose. ॥ 31 ॥

The Blessed Lord said: I am the mighty world-destroying Time, now engaged in destroying the worlds; even without you, all these warriors standing arrayed in the opposing armies shall not live.

The Blessed Lord said: I am the mighty Time, the destroyer of the worlds, now engaged in destroying these worlds. Therefore, all the warriors stationed in the opposing armies will not remain alive even without you, that is, even if you do not fight, all of them will be destroyed. ॥ 32 ॥

Therefore, stand up and win glory; conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom; by Me alone have they been already slain; be merely an instrument, O Savyasachin.

Therefore, stand up! Gain glory and conquer your enemies and enjoy a kingdom rich in wealth and grain. All these heroes have already been killed by me. O Savyasachin! You just become an instrument. ॥ 33 ॥

Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and other brave warriors as well, have already been slain by Me; do you slay them; do not tremble with fear; fight, and you shall conquer your enemies in battle.

Dronacharya and Bhishma Pitamah, as well as Jayadratha and Karna, and many other brave warriors who have been killed by me, you kill them. Do not be afraid. Undoubtedly, you will conquer your enemies in battle. Therefore, fight. ॥ 34 ॥

Sanjaya said: Having heard this speech of Kesava, the crowned Arjuna, with joined palms, trembling, prostrated himself and again spoke to Krishna, in a choked voice, overwhelmed with fear.

Sanjaya said: Hearing this speech of Kesava Bhagavan, the crowned Arjuna, with folded hands, trembling, bowed down and, still very frightened, spoke to Lord Krishna in a choked voice: ॥ 35 ॥

Arjuna said: Rightly, O Hrishikesa, the world rejoices and is delighted by Your praise; the Rakshasas fly in fear to all quarters, and all the hosts of Siddhas bow to You.

Arjuna said: O Indweller! It is fitting that the world is greatly delighted and filled with affection by the chanting of your name, qualities, and influence, and that the frightened demons are fleeing in all directions, and that all the communities of perfected beings are bowing down to you. ॥ 36 ॥

And why should they not bow to You, O Exalted One, greater than Brahma Himself, the Primal Cause? O Infinite One, Lord of gods, Abode of the universe, You are the Imperishable, the Being, the Non-being, and That which is beyond (both).

O Exalted One! Why should they not bow down to you, who are the original creator of Brahma and greater than him? Because, O Infinite One! O Lord of gods! O Abode of the universe! You alone are the imperishable Brahman, which is existence, non-existence, and beyond both, that is, the embodiment of bliss. ॥ 37 ॥

You are the Primal God, the Ancient Person; You are the supreme refuge of this universe; You are the Knower, the Object to be known, and the Supreme Abode; by You is pervaded the universe, O Being of infinite form.

You are the original God and the eternal being, you are the supreme refuge of this universe, and you are the knower, the object of knowledge, and the supreme abode. O Infinite Form! This entire universe is pervaded, that is, filled by you. ॥ 38 ॥

You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, the Lord of creatures, and the Great-grandfather; salutations, salutations to You, a thousand times; again and again salutations, salutations to You.

You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, the lord of creatures, Brahma, and the great-grandfather of Brahma. Salutations to you a thousand times! Salutations! Salutations to you again and again! Salutations!! ॥ 39 ॥

Salutations to You from the front, and also from behind; salutations to You on every side, O All; You are infinite in power and boundless in might; You pervade all, therefore You are all.

O possessor of infinite power! Salutations to you from the front and from the back! O All-Soul! Salutations to you from all sides. Because you, with your infinite prowess, pervade the entire world, therefore you are the all-form. ॥ 40 ॥

Whatever I have presumptuously said through affection or carelessness, regarding You merely as a friend, such as, "O Krishna, O Yadava, O Friend," not knowing this greatness of Yours; And whatever disrespect I may have shown You in jest, while at play, reposing, sitting, or at meals, alone or in the presence of others, that I implore You, the Immeasurable One, to forgive.

Not knowing this greatness of yours, thinking you to be my friend, I have presumptuously said, out of love or carelessness, 'O Krishna!', 'O Yadava!', 'O Friend!' And O Achyuta! Whatever disrespect I have shown you in jest, while playing, resting, sitting, or eating, alone or in the presence of those friends, I ask forgiveness for all those offenses from you, the immeasurable one, that is, the one with inconceivable influence. ॥ 41-42 ॥

You are the Father of the world, the moving and the unmoving; You are its adored One, the Supreme Guru; there is none equal to You; how then could there be another greater than You in the three worlds, O Being of unequalled power?

You are the father of this moving and non-moving world, the greatest guru and most worshipful. O Being of incomparable power! There is no one equal to you in the three worlds, so how could there be anyone greater than you? ॥ 43 ॥

Therefore, bowing down, prostrating my body, I crave Your forgiveness, O Lord, adorable as You are; bear with me, O God, as a father with his son, a friend with his friend, a lover with his beloved.

Therefore, O Lord! I prostrate my body well at your feet and pray to you, the adorable Lord, to be pleased. O God! Just as a father forgives a son, a friend forgives a friend, and a husband forgives a beloved wife, in the same way

You are worthy of forgiving my offenses as well. ॥ 44 ॥

I am delighted, having seen what was never seen before, and my mind is distressed with fear; show me that very form of Yours, O God; have mercy, O Lord of gods, Abode of the universe.

I am delighted to see this wonderful form of yours, which has never been seen before, and my mind is also greatly disturbed by fear, therefore, show me that four-armed Vishnu form of yours! O Lord of gods! O Abode of the universe! Be pleased. ॥ 45 ॥

I desire to see You even as before, with crown, mace, and discus in hand; reveal Yourself in that very form with four arms, O Thousand-armed One, Cosmic Form.

I wish to see you in the same form as before, wearing a crown and holding a mace and discus in your hands, therefore, O Universal Form! O Thousand-Armed One! Manifest yourself in that four-armed form. ॥ 46 ॥

The Blessed Lord said: By My grace, O Arjuna, this supreme form has been shown to you through My own Yoga power, full of splendor, universal, endless, primal, which none but you has ever beheld before.

The Blessed Lord said: O Arjuna! Out of grace, I have shown you this supreme, radiant, universal, endless, and primeval form through the power of my own yoga, which no one other than you has ever seen before. ॥ 47 ॥

Neither by the Vedas, nor by sacrifices, nor by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by severe austerities, can I be seen in this form in the world of men by any other than you, O heroic Kurus.

O Arjuna! In the human world, I, with this universal form, cannot be seen by anyone other than you, neither through the study of the Vedas and sacrifices, nor through charity, nor through rituals, nor through severe austerities. ॥ 48 ॥

Let there be no fear, nor delusion of mind, in you, on beholding this terrible form of Mine; freed from fear and with a gladdened heart, behold again this very form of Mine.

You should not be disturbed or deluded by seeing this terrible form of mine. Free from fear and with a joyful heart, see again this four-armed form of mine, adorned with conch, discus, mace, and lotus. ॥ 49 ॥

Sanjaya said: Having thus spoken to Arjuna, Vasudeva again revealed to him His own form; and the Exalted One, assuming again His gentle form, consoled him who was terrified.

Sanjaya said: After speaking thus to Arjuna, Vasudeva again showed him his four-armed form, and then the great-souled Krishna, assuming a gentle form, consoled this frightened Arjuna. ॥ 50 ॥

Arjuna said: Having seen again this gentle human form of Yours, O Janardana, I am now composed in mind, and restored to my own nature.

Arjuna said: O Janardana! Seeing this very peaceful human form of yours, I am now composed and have returned to my natural state. ॥ 51 ॥

The Blessed Lord said: Very difficult to behold is this form of Mine which you have seen; even the gods are ever longing to behold this form.

The Blessed Lord said: This four-armed form of mine that you have seen is very difficult to behold, that is, its vision is very rare. Even the gods are always longing to see this form. ॥ 52 ॥

Neither by the Vedas, nor by austerity, nor by gifts, nor by sacrifice, can I be seen in this form as you have seen Me.

I, with this four-armed form, cannot be seen through the Vedas, nor through austerity, nor through charity, nor through sacrifice, in the way that you have seen me. ॥ 53 ॥

But by single-minded devotion, O Arjuna, I can be thus truly known, seen, and also entered into, O Parantapa.

But O Parantapa Arjuna! I, with this four-armed form, can be directly seen, truly known, and also entered into, that is, attained in oneness, through exclusive devotion. ॥ 54॥

He who does all actions for Me, who looks upon Me as the Supreme, who is devoted to Me, who is free from attachment, who is without hatred towards all beings, he comes to Me, O Pandava.

O Arjuna! The man who performs all his duties only for me, who is devoted to me, who is free from attachment, and who is free from enmity towards all beings, that man endowed with exclusive devotion attains me alone. ॥ 55 ॥

ॐ tatsaditi śrīmadbhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṁ yogaśāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṁvāde viśvarūpadarśanayogo nāmaikādaśo'dhyāyaḥ ॥ 11 ॥