Chapter 11, Verse 45 (Bhagavad Gita 11.45)
Chapter 11: Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog – Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Sanskrit Shloka
अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे। तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपं प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास
Transliteration
adṛiṣhṭa-pūrvaṁ hṛiṣhito ’smi dṛiṣhṭvā bhayena cha pravyathitaṁ mano me tad eva me darśhaya deva rūpaṁ prasīda deveśha jagan-nivāsa
Word Meanings
adṛiṣhṭa-pūrvam—that which has not been seen before; hṛiṣhitaḥ—great joy; asmi—I am; dṛiṣhṭvā—having seen; bhayena—with fear; cha—yet; pravyathitam—trembles; manaḥ—mind; me—my; tat—that; eva—certainly; me—to me; darśhaya—show; deva—Lord; rūpam—form; prasīda—please have mercy; deva-īśha—God of gods; jagat-nivāsa—abode of the universe
Translation
Arjuna said: I am delighted to have seen that which has never been seen before, yet my mind is disturbed by fear. O Lord Krishna, please show me Your previous form; have mercy, O God of gods, O Abode of the universe.
Meaning & Commentary
In this moment, Arjuna stands in awe of the Vishwaroop, the infinite cosmic form of Lord Krishna that encompasses the entire creation. While the vision brings transcendental joy, the human mind struggles to grasp the sheer magnitude of the Absolute, leading to a natural sense of existential trembling. Lord Krishna teaches that the devotee’s relationship with the Divine is a delicate balance between profound reverence and intimate love. By asking to see the familiar human form of Shri Krishna, Arjuna acknowledges that ultimate liberation is not found in the abstract terror of the infinite, but in the personal, compassionate presence of the Supreme Being. This shift emphasizes that while Shri Krishna is the source of all existence, His grace is most accessible through the heart-centered devotion of the personal connection.