Chapter 11, Verse 19 (Bhagavad Gita 11.19)
Chapter 11: Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog – Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Sanskrit Shloka
अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्। पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रम् स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम्
Transliteration
स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् || 19||
Word Meanings
anādi-madhyāntam ananta-vīryam ananta-bāhuṁ śhaśhi-sūrya-netram paśhyāmi tvāṁ dīpta-hutāśha-vaktraṁ sva-tejasā viśhvam idaṁ tapantam
Translation
I behold You as without beginning, middle, or end, possessed of infinite power, with innumerable arms; the sun and moon are Your eyes, and Your mouth is a blazing fire, heating the entire universe with Your own radiance.
Meaning & Commentary
In this vision of the Vishwaroop, Shri Krishna reveals His true identity as the eternal Brahman, the ground of all existence that transcends space and time. Arjuna witnesses that everything in the cosmos—the celestial bodies and the destructive fires—is but a manifestation of Shri Krishna’s immeasurable potency. This revelation humbles the seeker, demonstrating that the individual ego is insignificant compared to the Supreme Lord, who sustains and consumes all creation. By recognizing Shri Krishna as the ultimate source, the devotee attains liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Surrender to this Divine form allows one to transcend fear, as one realizes that the Lord is both the beginning and the end of all paths.