Chapter 11, Verse 41 (Bhagavad Gita 11.41)
Chapter 11: Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog – Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Sanskrit Shloka
सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति। अजानता महिमानं तवेदं मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि
Transliteration
sakheti matvā prasabhaṁ yad uktaṁ he kṛiṣhṇa he yādava he sakheti ajānatā mahimānaṁ tavedaṁ mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi
Word Meanings
sakhā—friend; iti—as; matvā—thinking; prasabham—presumptuously; yat—whatever; uktam—addressed; he kṛiṣhṇa—O Shree Krishna; he yādava—O Shree Krishna, who was born in the Yadu clan; he sakhe—O my dear mate; iti—thus; ajānatā—in ignorance; mahimānam—majesty; tava—your; idam—this; mayā—by me; pramādāt—out of negligence; praṇayena—out of affection; vā api—or else;
Translation
Whatever I have rashly said out of carelessness or affection, calling You 'O Krishna', 'O Yadava', or 'O Friend', considering You merely as a friend, not knowing Your greatness, O Achyuta.
Meaning & Commentary
In this moment of profound realization, Arjuna bows before the infinite majesty of Shri Krishna, overwhelmed by the revelation of His Vishvarupa. He confesses the limitations of his human perspective, recognizing that his past familiarity with the Lord was born of ignorance regarding His true, cosmic identity as the Supreme Brahman. This transition from friendship to surrender marks the pivotal shift in the seeker's journey from mundane connection to divine devotion. Arjuna’s repentance serves as a lesson to all, teaching us that while the Lord descends to our level to grant us intimacy, we must never lose sight of His divine sovereignty. True liberation begins when the ego acknowledges its limited vision and bows completely before the eternal glory of Shri Krishna.