Arjuna asks to see Krishna's true cosmic form. Krishna grants divine sight. Arjuna sees the universe contained in Krishna's body — luminous, terrible, time itself devouring all worlds. He pleads to see the gentle four-armed form again.
अर्जुन उवाच । मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम् । यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम ॥
arjuna uvāca | mad-anugrahāya paramaṃ guhyam-adhyātma-saṃjñitam | yat tvayoktaṃ vacas-tena moho’yaṃ vigato mama ||
Arjuna said: Out of grace toward me, you have spoken the supreme secret known as adhyatma. By those words my delusion is gone.
भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया । त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ॥
bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṃ śrutau vistaraśo mayā | tvattaḥ kamala-patrākṣa māhātmyam-api cāvyayam ||
I have heard from you in detail the origin and dissolution of beings, O lotus-eyed one, and also your imperishable greatness.
एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर । द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ॥
evam-etad-yathāttha tvam-ātmānaṃ parameśvara | draṣṭum-icchāmi te rūpam-aiśvaraṃ puruṣottama ||
O supreme Lord, what you have said of yourself is so. I wish to see your divine form, O supreme person.
मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो । योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ॥
manyase yadi tac-chakyaṃ mayā draṣṭum-iti prabho | yogeśvara tato me tvaṃ darśayātmānam-avyayam ||
If you think it is possible for me to behold it, O Lord — then, O Lord of yoga, show me your imperishable Self.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca | paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi śataśo’tha sahasraśaḥ | nānā-vidhāni divyāni nānā-varṇākṛtīni ca ||
The Blessed Lord said: Behold, O Partha, my forms — in hundreds and thousands, of various kinds, divine, of many colours and shapes.
पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा । बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत ॥
paśyādityān vasūn rudrān aśvinau marutas-tathā | bahūny-adṛṣṭa-pūrvāṇi paśyāścaryāṇi bhārata ||
Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvins, and the Maruts. Behold, O Bharata, many wonders never seen before.
इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम् । मम देहे गुडाकेश यच्चान्यद्द्रष्टुमिच्छसि ॥
ihaika-sthaṃ jagat kṛtsnaṃ paśyādya sa-carācaram | mama dehe guḍākeśa yac-cānyad draṣṭum-icchasi ||
See here the whole world, moving and unmoving, gathered in one place, in this body of mine, O Gudakesha — and whatever else you wish to behold.
न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा । दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ॥
na tu māṃ śakyase draṣṭum-anenaiva sva-cakṣuṣā | divyaṃ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya me yogam-aiśvaram ||
But you cannot see me with your own eyes. I give you divine sight. Behold my divine yoga.
सञ्जय उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः । दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम् ॥
sañjaya uvāca | evam-uktvā tato rājan mahā-yogeśvaro hariḥ | darśayām-āsa pārthāya paramaṃ rūpam-aiśvaram ||
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus, O king, Hari, the great Lord of yoga, revealed to Arjuna his supreme divine form.
अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम् । अनेकदिव्याभरणं दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम् ॥
aneka-vaktra-nayanam-anekādbhuta-darśanam | aneka-divyābharaṇaṃ divyānekodyatāyudham ||
With many faces and eyes, with many wonderful sights, adorned with many divine ornaments, with many divine weapons uplifted—
दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् । सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवमनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम् ॥
divya-mālyāmbara-dharaṃ divya-gandhānulepanam | sarvāścarya-mayaṃ devam-anantaṃ viśvato-mukham ||
— wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine perfumes, the all-wondrous, the infinite, the all-faced God.
दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता । यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥
divi sūrya-sahasrasya bhaved yugapad-utthitā | yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syād bhāsas-tasya mahātmanaḥ ||
If the light of a thousand suns were to blaze forth at once in the sky — that might resemble the splendour of that great Self.
तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा । अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा ॥
tatraika-sthaṃ jagat kṛtsnaṃ pravibhaktam-anekadhā | apaśyad-deva-devasya śarīre pāṇḍavas-tadā ||
There Arjuna saw the whole universe, divided into many parts, gathered in one place in the body of the God of gods.
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः । प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ॥
tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo hṛṣṭa-romā dhanañjayaḥ | praṇamya śirasā devaṃ kṛtāñjalir-abhāṣata ||
Then Dhananjaya, struck with wonder, his hair standing on end, bowed his head before the Lord and, with folded hands, spoke.
अर्जुन उवाच । पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान् । ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थमृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान् ॥
arjuna uvāca | paśyāmi devāṃs-tava deva dehe sarvāṃs-tathā bhūta-viśeṣa-saṅghān | brahmāṇam-īśaṃ kamalāsana-stham-ṛṣīṃś-ca sarvān-uragāṃś-ca divyān ||
Arjuna said: I see all the gods in your body, O Lord, and hosts of various beings — Brahma on his lotus seat, all the sages, and all the divine serpents.
अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम् । नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप ॥
aneka-bāhūdara-vaktra-netraṃ paśyāmi tvāṃ sarvato’nanta-rūpam | nāntaṃ na madhyaṃ na punas-tavādiṃ paśyāmi viśveśvara viśva-rūpa ||
I see you with many arms, bellies, mouths, eyes — infinite forms on every side. No end, no middle, no beginning of you do I see, O Lord of all, O universal form.
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च तेजोराशिं सर्वतो दीप्तिमन्तम् । पश्यामि त्वां दुर्निरीक्ष्यं समन्ताद्दीप्तानलार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम् ॥
kirīṭinaṃ gadinaṃ cakriṇaṃ ca tejo-rāśiṃ sarvato dīptimantam | paśyāmi tvāṃ durnirīkṣyaṃ samantād dīptānalārka-dyutim-aprameyam ||
I see you with crown, club, and discus — a mass of brilliance, blazing everywhere, hard to look upon, immeasurable, with the radiance of blazing fire and sun.
त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् । त्वमव्ययः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे ॥
tvam-akṣaraṃ paramaṃ veditavyaṃ tvam-asya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam | tvam-avyayaḥ śāśvata-dharma-goptā sanātanas-tvaṃ puruṣo mato me ||
You are the supreme imperishable to be known. You are the great refuge of this universe. You are the imperishable guardian of the eternal dharma — the primeval Person, as I hold.
अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्यमनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम् । पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रं स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् ॥
anādi-madhyāntam-ananta-vīryam-ananta-bāhuṃ śaśi-sūrya-netram | paśyāmi tvāṃ dīpta-hutāśa-vaktraṃ sva-tejasā viśvam-idaṃ tapantam ||
Without beginning, middle, or end, of infinite power, of infinite arms, with the sun and moon for eyes — I see you, your mouth a blazing fire, scorching this universe with your radiance.
द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः । दृष्ट्वाद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन् ॥
dyāv-ā-pṛthivyor-idam-antaraṃ hi vyāptaṃ tvayaikena diśaś-ca sarvāḥ | dṛṣṭvādbhutaṃ rūpam-ugraṃ tavedaṃ loka-trayaṃ pravyathitaṃ mahātman ||
The space between heaven and earth, and all the quarters, are filled by you alone. Seeing this wondrous, terrible form of yours, the three worlds tremble, O great Self.
अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति । स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ॥
amī hi tvāṃ sura-saṅghā viśanti kecid-bhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti | svastīty-uktvā maharṣi-siddha-saṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṃ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ ||
These hosts of gods enter you; some, terrified, with folded hands praise you. The hosts of great sages and siddhas, calling out "Hail!", praise you with hymns of glory.
रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या विश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च । गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घा वीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे ॥
rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā viśve’śvinau marutaś-coṣma-pāś-ca | gandharva-yakṣāsura-siddha-saṅghā vīkṣante tvāṃ vismitāś-caiva sarve ||
The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Vishvedevas, the two Ashvins, the Maruts, the manes, hosts of gandharvas, yakshas, asuras, siddhas — all behold you, struck with wonder.
रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम् । बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालं दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाहम् ॥
rūpaṃ mahat te bahu-vaktra-netraṃ mahā-bāho bahu-bāhūru-pādam | bahūdaraṃ bahu-daṃṣṭrā-karālaṃ dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās-tathāham ||
Seeing your great form with many mouths and eyes, O mighty-armed, many arms, thighs, feet, many bellies, terrible with many tusks — the worlds tremble, and so do I.
नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् । दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो ॥
nabhaḥ-spṛśaṃ dīptam-aneka-varṇaṃ vyāttānanaṃ dīpta-viśāla-netram | dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṃ pravyathitāntarātmā dhṛtiṃ na vindāmi śamaṃ ca viṣṇo ||
Touching the sky, blazing in many colours, with gaping mouths and great fiery eyes — seeing you, my inner self is shaken; I find no courage and no peace, O Vishnu.
दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि । दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥
daṃṣṭrā-karālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvaiva kālānala-sannibhāni | diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa ||
Seeing your mouths terrible with tusks, like the fires of cosmic dissolution — I lose my sense of direction, I find no comfort. Be gracious, O Lord of gods, refuge of the worlds.
अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः । भीष्मो द्रोणः सूतपुत्रस्तथासौ सहास्मदीयैरपि योधमुख्यैः ॥
amī ca tvāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ sarve sahaivāvani-pāla-saṅghaiḥ | bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sūta-putras-tathāsau sahāsmadīyair-api yodha-mukhyaiḥ ||
And these sons of Dhritarashtra, with the host of kings, Bhishma, Drona, the son of the charioteer (Karna), along with our own chief warriors—
वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि । केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु सन्दृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः ॥
vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti daṃṣṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni | kecid-vilagnā daśanāntareṣu sandṛśyante cūrṇitair-uttamāṅgaiḥ ||
— rush into your mouths, terrible with tusks, fearful. Some appear caught between your teeth, their heads crushed to powder.
यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः समुद्रमेवाभिमुखा द्रवन्ति । तथा तवामी नरलोकवीरा विशन्ति वक्त्राण्यभिविज्वलन्ति ॥
yathā nadīnāṃ bahavo’mbu-vegāḥ samudram-evābhimukhā dravanti | tathā tavāmī nara-loka-vīrā viśanti vaktrāṇy-abhivijvalanti ||
As the rushing currents of many rivers race toward the sea, so these heroes of the world of men enter your blazing mouths.
यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः । तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोकास्तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः ॥
yathā pradīptaṃ jvalanaṃ pataṅgā viśanti nāśāya samṛddha-vegāḥ | tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokās-tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddha-vegāḥ ||
As moths rush into a blazing flame to their destruction with mighty speed — so do these worlds rush into your mouths to their destruction.
लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ताल्लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः । तेजोभिरापूर्य जगत्समग्रं भासस्तवोग्राः प्रतपन्ति विष्णो ॥
lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāl-lokān samagrān vadanair-jvaladbhiḥ | tejobhir-āpūrya jagat-samagraṃ bhāsas-tavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo ||
You lick up all the worlds on all sides with your blazing mouths, swallowing them. Filling the whole universe with brilliance, your fierce rays burn, O Vishnu.
आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद । विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम् ॥
ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo namo’stu te deva-vara prasīda | vijñātum-icchāmi bhavantam-ādyaṃ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim ||
Tell me — who are you of this terrible form? Salutations to you, O best of gods. Be gracious. I wish to know you, the primal one. I do not understand what you are doing.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः । ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca | kālo’smi loka-kṣaya-kṛt-pravṛddho lokān samāhartum-iha pravṛttaḥ | ṛte’pi tvāṃ na bhaviṣyanti sarve ye’vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ ||
The Blessed Lord said: I am Time, the great destroyer of worlds, here engaged to consume the worlds. Even without you, all these warriors arrayed in the opposing armies shall cease to be.
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून्भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् । मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥
tasmāt tvam-uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṃ samṛddham | mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam-eva nimitta-mātraṃ bhava savya-sācin ||
Therefore arise, win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy the prosperous kingdom. These have already been slain by me. Be merely the instrument, O Savyasachin.
द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् । मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ॥
droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca karṇaṃ tathānyān-api yodha-vīrān | mayā hatāṃs-tvaṃ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān ||
Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and other heroic warriors — already slain by me — you must kill. Do not waver. Fight; you will conquer the enemies in battle.
सञ्जय उवाच । एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी । नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य ॥
sañjaya uvāca | etac-chrutvā vacanaṃ keśavasya kṛtāñjalir-vepamānaḥ kirīṭī | namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṃ sa-gadgadaṃ bhīta-bhītaḥ praṇamya ||
Sanjaya said: Hearing these words of Keshava, the crowned one (Arjuna), trembling, hands folded, bowed again and again to Krishna; with stammering voice, terrified, he spoke.
अर्जुन उवाच । स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या जगत्प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च । रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्ति सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः ॥
arjuna uvāca | sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā jagat prahṛṣyaty-anurajyate ca | rakṣāṃsi bhītāni diśo dravanti sarve namasyanti ca siddha-saṅghāḥ ||
Arjuna said: Rightly, O Hrishikesha, the world rejoices in your glory and is drawn to you. The rakshasas flee in fear in every direction; the hosts of siddhas all bow.
कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे । अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत् ॥
kasmāc-ca te na nameran mahātman garīyase brahmaṇo’py-ādi-kartre | ananta deveśa jagan-nivāsa tvam-akṣaraṃ sad-asat tat paraṃ yat ||
How could they not bow to you, O great Self, greater even than Brahma the first creator? O infinite Lord of gods, refuge of the world, you are the imperishable, being and non-being, that which is beyond both.
त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराणस्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् । वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप ॥
tvam-ādi-devaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇas-tvam-asya viśvasya paraṃ nidhānam | vettāsi vedyaṃ ca paraṃ ca dhāma tvayā tataṃ viśvam-ananta-rūpa ||
You are the primal God, the ancient Person; you are the supreme refuge of this universe. You are the knower, the to-be-known, and the supreme abode. By you the universe is pervaded, O one of infinite form.
वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च । नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वः पुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते ॥
vāyur-yamo’gnir-varuṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ prajāpatis-tvaṃ prapitāmahaś-ca | namo namas-te’stu sahasra-kṛtvaḥ punaś-ca bhūyo’pi namo namas-te ||
You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the moon, Prajapati, and the great-grandfather. Salutations a thousand times to you — and again and again, salutations to you.
नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व । अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ॥
namaḥ purastād-atha pṛṣṭhatas-te namo’stu te sarvata eva sarva | ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas-tvaṃ sarvaṃ samāpnoṣi tato’si sarvaḥ ||
Salutations to you in front and behind, salutations on every side, O All. Of infinite power and limitless might, you pervade all — therefore you are All.
सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति । अजानता महिमानं तवेदं मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि ॥
sakheti matvā prasabhaṃ yad-uktaṃ he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakheti | ajānatā mahimānaṃ tavedaṃ mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi ||
Whatever I have said rashly, calling you "Krishna," "Yadava," "friend," — thinking of you as a comrade — out of ignorance of your greatness, through carelessness or love—
यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु । एकोऽथवाप्यच्युत तत्समक्षं तत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम् ॥
yac-cāvahāsārtham-asat-kṛto’si vihāra-śayyāsana-bhojaneṣu | eko’thavāpy-acyuta tat-samakṣaṃ tat kṣāmaye tvām-aham-aprameyam ||
— and whatever disrespect I showed to you in jest while playing, resting, sitting, eating — alone or in the presence of others, O Achyuta — I beg pardon of you, the immeasurable one.
पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान् । न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव ॥
pitāsi lokasya carācarasya tvam-asya pūjyaś-ca gurur-garīyān | na tvat-samo’sty-abhyadhikaḥ kuto’nyo loka-traye’py-apratima-prabhāva ||
You are the father of this world, moving and unmoving, the one to be worshipped, the gravest teacher. None is equal to you in the three worlds; how then any greater, O one of incomparable power?
तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम् । पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम् ॥
tasmāt praṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṃ prasādaye tvām-aham-īśam-īḍyam | piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum ||
Therefore, bowing down, prostrating my body, I implore your grace, O Lord, worthy of adoration. As a father bears with his son, a friend with a friend, a lover with the beloved — so should you bear with me, O God.
अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे । तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपं प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥
adṛṣṭa-pūrvaṃ hṛṣito’smi dṛṣṭvā bhayena ca pravyathitaṃ mano me | tad-eva me darśaya deva rūpaṃ prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa ||
I am delighted to have seen what was never seen before — yet my mind is shaken with fear. Show me again that other form. Be gracious, O Lord of gods, refuge of the worlds.
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्तमिच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव । तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेन सहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते ॥
kirīṭinaṃ gadinaṃ cakra-hastam-icchāmi tvāṃ draṣṭum-ahaṃ tathaiva | tenaiva rūpeṇa catur-bhujena sahasra-bāho bhava viśva-mūrte ||
I wish to see you as before — with crown, mace, discus in hand. In that very four-armed form, O thousand-armed, universal form, appear again.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात् । तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम् ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca | mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṃ rūpaṃ paraṃ darśitam-ātma-yogāt | tejomayaṃ viśvam-anantam-ādyaṃ yan-me tvad-anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam ||
The Blessed Lord said: By my grace, O Arjuna, this supreme form has been shown to you by my own power — full of brilliance, infinite, primal. It has not been seen by anyone other than you.
न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानैर्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः । एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर ॥
na veda-yajñādhyayanair-na dānair-na ca kriyābhir-na tapobhir-ugraiḥ | evaṃ-rūpaḥ śakya ahaṃ nṛ-loke draṣṭuṃ tvad-anyena kuru-pravīra ||
Not by the study of the Vedas, nor by sacrifices, nor by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by severe austerities — can I be seen in this form in the world of men by anyone other than you, O hero of the Kurus.
मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम् । व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य ॥
mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍha-bhāvo dṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ ghoram-īdṛṅ-mamedam | vyapeta-bhīḥ prīta-manāḥ punas-tvaṃ tad-eva me rūpam-idaṃ prapaśya ||
Do not be afraid, do not be bewildered, seeing this terrible form of mine. Free from fear, with gladdened mind, now behold once more that other form of mine.
सञ्जय उवाच । इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः । आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनं भूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा ॥
sañjaya uvāca | ity-arjunaṃ vāsudevas-tathoktvā svakaṃ rūpaṃ darśayām-āsa bhūyaḥ | āśvāsayām-āsa ca bhītam-enaṃ bhūtvā punaḥ saumya-vapur-mahātmā ||
Sanjaya said: Having thus spoken to Arjuna, Vasudeva showed his own form again. The great Self, assuming once more his gentle form, comforted the frightened one.
अर्जुन उवाच । दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तव सौम्यं जनार्दन । इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः ॥
arjuna uvāca | dṛṣṭvedaṃ mānuṣaṃ rūpaṃ tava saumyaṃ janārdana | idānīm-asmi saṃvṛttaḥ sa-cetāḥ prakṛtiṃ gataḥ ||
Arjuna said: Seeing this human, gentle form of yours, O Janardana, I am now composed, mindful, restored to my normal state.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम । देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca | su-durdarśam-idaṃ rūpaṃ dṛṣṭavān-asi yan-mama | devā apy-asya rūpasya nityaṃ darśana-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ ||
The Blessed Lord said: This form of mine which you have seen is very hard to behold. Even the gods constantly long for a glimpse of this form.
नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया । शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा ॥
nāhaṃ vedair-na tapasā na dānena na cejyayā | śakya evaṃ-vidho draṣṭuṃ dṛṣṭavān-asi māṃ yathā ||
Not by the Vedas, not by austerities, not by gifts, not by sacrifice can I be seen in this form, as you have seen me.
भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन । ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप ॥
bhaktyā tv-ananyayā śakya aham-evaṃ-vidho’rjuna | jñātuṃ draṣṭuṃ ca tattvena praveṣṭuṃ ca paran-tapa ||
But by single-pointed devotion alone, O Arjuna, I can be known, seen in truth, and entered into, O scorcher of foes.
मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः । निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु यः स मामेति पाण्डव ॥
mat-karma-kṛn-mat-paramo mad-bhaktaḥ saṅga-varjitaḥ | nirvairaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ sa mām-eti pāṇḍava ||
One who works for me, holds me as the supreme, is devoted to me, free from attachment, without enmity toward any being — that one comes to me, O Pandava.