Chapter 11, Verse 17 (Bhagavad Gita 11.17)
Chapter 11: Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog – Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Sanskrit Shloka
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च तेजोराशिं सर्वतोदीप्तिमन्तम्। पश्यामि त्वां दुर्निरीक्ष्यं समन्ता द्दीप्तानलार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम्
Transliteration
kirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ chakriṇaṁ cha tejo-rāśhiṁ sarvato dīptimantam paśhyāmi tvāṁ durnirīkṣhyaṁ samantād dīptānalārka-dyutim aprameyam
Word Meanings
kirīṭinam—adorned with a crown; gadinam—with club; chakriṇam—with discs; cha—and; tejaḥ-rāśhim—abode of splendor; sarvataḥ—everywhere; dīpti-mantam—shining; paśhyāmi—I see; tvām—you; durnirīkṣhyam—difficult to look upon; samantāt—in all directions; dīpta-anala—blazing fire; arka—like the sun; dyutim—effulgence; aprameyam—immeasurable
Translation
I see You possessing a diadem, a club, and a discus, a mass of radiance shining everywhere, difficult to behold, blazing all around like a burning fire and the sun, and immeasurable in Your form.
Meaning & Commentary
In this moment of Vishwarupa Darshan, Arjuna witnesses the terrifying yet sublime majesty of Lord Krishna as the source of all existence. This vision shatters the illusion of the human persona, revealing that Shri Krishna is the eternal Brahman, encompassing both the creator and the destroyer of time. For a seeker, this revelation signifies that the Divine is not merely a distant concept but an all-pervading reality that permeates every atom of the universe. By surrendering to this supreme vision, the devotee transcends the limitations of worldly perception and begins the journey toward liberation. Recognizing Lord Krishna as the Infinite within the finite allows the soul to attain eternal peace and devotion.