Chapter 11, Verse 20 (Bhagavad Gita 11.20)
Chapter 11: Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog – Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Sanskrit Shloka
द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः। दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन्
Transliteration
dyāv ā-pṛithivyor idam antaraṁ hi vyāptaṁ tvayaikena diśhaśh cha sarvāḥ dṛiṣhṭvādbhutaṁ rūpam ugraṁ tavedaṁ loka-trayaṁ pravyathitaṁ mahātman
Word Meanings
dyau-ā-pṛithivyoḥ—between heaven and earth; idam—this; antaram—space between; hi—indeed; vyāptam—pervaded; tvayā—by you; ekena—alone; diśhaḥ—directions; cha—and; sarvāḥ—all; dṛiṣhṭvā—seeing; adbhutam—wondrous; rūpam—form; ugram—terrible; tava—your; idam—this; loka—worlds; trayam—three; pravyathitam—trembling; mahā-ātman—The greatest of all beings
Translation
O Great-Souled One! This space between the heavens and the earth and all the directions are pervaded by You alone; seeing this Your wondrous and terrible form, the three worlds are trembling with fear.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound moment, Arjuna witnesses the Virata-rupa, the cosmic manifestation of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, which transcends human comprehension. Shri Krishna reveals that He is the substratum of all existence, the thread upon which every atom and galaxy is strung. The 'terrible' aspect of this form reminds the seeker that Shri Krishna is not only the sustainer of life but also the architect of time and destruction (Kala), before whom all ego must surrender. Through this revelation, the Lord invites Arjuna—and all humanity—to move beyond the limitations of material perception and recognize the Divine presence in every aspect of the cosmos. True liberation, or moksha, begins when the soul ceases to identify with the transient world and fully aligns its consciousness with the eternal majesty of Shri Krishna.