Chapter 11, Verse 24 (Bhagavad Gita 11.24)
Chapter 11: Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog – Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Sanskrit Shloka
नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम्। दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो
Transliteration
nabhaḥ-spṛiśhaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁ vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viśhāla-netram dṛiṣhṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntar-ātmā dhṛitiṁ na vindāmi śhamaṁ cha viṣhṇo
Word Meanings
nabhaḥ-spṛiśham—touching the sky; dīptam—effulgent; aneka—many; varṇam—colors; vyātta—open; ānanam—mouths; dīpta—blazing; viśhāla—enormous; netram—eyes; dṛiṣhṭvā—seeing; hi—indeed; tvām—you; pravyathitāntar-ātmā—my heart is trembling with fear; dhṛitim—firmness; na—not; vindāmi—I find; śhamam—mental peace; cha—and; viṣhṇo—Lord Vishnu
Translation
Seeing Thee touching the sky, effulgent in many colors, with mouths wide open and large fiery eyes, I am terrified at heart, O Vishnu, and find neither courage nor peace.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound moment, Arjuna witnesses the Virata-Rupa, the staggering universal form of Lord Krishna that encompasses all existence, time, and destruction. The sheer intensity of the Supreme Lord’s cosmic majesty shatters Arjuna’s limited human perspective, revealing that life and death are but subtle expressions of the Lord's infinite being. This vision serves as a humbling reminder to every seeker that our individual anxieties are insignificant when measured against the eternal, all-pervading reality of Shri Krishna. By confronting this terrifying yet glorious truth, Arjuna is prepared to transcend his ego and surrender completely to the divine will. True liberation, or moksha, begins when the soul ceases to rely on its own meager strength and finds absolute refuge in the lotus feet of Bhagwan Shri Krishna.