Dr. Suka Dev

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Chapter Eleven: The Cosmic Vision; Arjuna Sees God's Everything

In our last chapter, Lord Krishna revealed how He is the essence of everything in the universe. Now, Arjuna is about to ask for something truly incredible—to see God's actual Universal Form, a sight that no one, not even the gods, has ever truly seen! This chapter is like stepping into a cosmic whirlwind, a visual journey that will utterly blow your mind!

Arjuna Asks to See God's Universal Form¹

The chapter begins with Arjuna, his mind cleared by Krishna's previous teachings, making an astonishing request. He wants to see God's ultimate, divine manifestation.

graph TD B[Arjuna says Krishna's words of supreme, confidential spiritual knowledge removed his illusion.] B --> C[He heard in detail about all beings' appearance and disappearance from Krishna.] C --> D[He also heard about Krishna's inexhaustible glories.] D --> E[Arjuna states he wants to see Krishna's divine, universal form.] E --> F[He asks Krishna to show His eternal Self, if it's possible for him to see.]

"Arjunaḥ uvāca: mat-anugrahāya paramam guhyam adhyātma-saṁjñitam yat tvayā uktam vacaḥ tena mohaḥ ayam vigataḥ mama."¹ Arjuna said: "Just to show me favor, mat-anugrahāya, You have spoken to me the supreme, paramam, most confidential, guhyam, subject of spiritual truth, adhyātma-saṁjñitam! By those words, tena uktam vacaḥ, this illusion of mine, mohaḥ ayam, is now removed, vigataḥ mama!"

"Bhava-apyayau hi bhūtānām śrutau vistaraśaḥ mayā tvattaḥ kamala-patra-akṣa māhātmyam api ca avyayam."² "O lotus-eyed one, kamala-patra-akṣa! I have certainly, hi, heard from You, tvattaḥ, in detail, vistaraśaḥ, about the appearance, bhava, and disappearance, apyayau, of all living entities, bhūtānām! And also, api ca, about Your inexhaustible, avyayam, glories, māhātmyam!"

"Evam etat yathā āttha tvam ātmānam parama-īśvara draṣṭum icchāmi te rūpam aiśvaram puruṣa-uttama."³ "O Supreme Lord, parama-īśvara! O best of personalities, puruṣa-uttama! What You have spoken, yathā āttha tvam, about Yourself, ātmānam, is exactly as it is, evam etat! Now, I wish, icchāmi, to see Your divine form, te rūpam aiśvaram, Yourself, draṣṭum!"

"Manyase yadi tat śakyam mayā draṣṭum iti prabho yoga-īśvara tataḥ me tvam darśaya ātmānam avyayam."⁴ "O Lord, prabho! If You think that it is possible, yadi tat śakyam, for me to see it, mayā draṣṭum, then, tataḥ, O Lord of all mystic power, yoga-īśvara (yo-ga-eesh-va-ra)! Please show me, darśaya, Your eternal Self, ātmānam avyayam!"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: Yoga-īśvara is a powerful name for Krishna here, kids! It means 'the Lord of all mystic power.' Arjuna is asking Krishna to use His absolute, unimaginable power to show him something truly divine and impossible for normal eyes to see!

Krishna Grants Arjuna Special Sight⁵

graph TD B[God tells Arjuna to see His forms: hundreds, thousands; diverse, divine; varied colors and shapes.] B --> C[See gods like Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Ashvinis, Maruts; and many wonders never seen before.] C --> D[See the entire universe, moving and non-moving, all in one place in God's body.] D --> E[And whatever else Arjuna wishes to see, he can see now.] E --> F[God explains Arjuna cannot see Him with ordinary eyes.] F --> G[God grants Arjuna divine eyes to see His inconceivable mystic power.]

Lord Krishna agrees to fulfill Arjuna's extraordinary request. He promises to show Arjuna hundreds and thousands of His divine forms and wonders never before seen, explaining that ordinary eyes cannot witness such a sight. So, Krishna grants Arjuna special, divine vision for this cosmic revelation.

"Śrī-bhagavān uvāca: paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi śataśaḥ atha sahasraśaḥ nānā-vidhāni divyāni nānā-varṇa-ākṛtīni ca."⁵ Lord Krishna said: "O son of Pritha, pārtha! Just see, paśya, My forms, me rūpāṇi—hundreds, śataśaḥ, and also thousands, atha sahasraśaḥ! They are variegated, nānā-vidhāni, divine, divyāni, and have many different colors and shapes, nānā-varṇa-ākṛtīni ca!"

"Paśya ādityān vasūn rudrān aśvinau marutaḥ tathā bahūni adṛṣṭa-pūrvāṇi paśya āścaryāṇi bhārata."⁶ "See the Adityas, ādityān, the Vasus, vasūn, the Rudras, rudrān, the two Ashvinis, aśvinau, and also the Maruts, marutaḥ tathā! O best of the Bharatas, bhārata! See many wonders, bahūni āścaryāṇi, that you have never seen before, adṛṣṭa-pūrvāṇi!"

"Iha eka-stham jagat kṛtsnam paśya adya sa-cara-acaram mama dehe guḍākeśa yat ca anyat draṣṭum icchasi."⁷ "O Arjuna, guḍākeśa (gu-ḍā-ke-śa—meaning 'conqueror of ignorance')! See the entire universe, jagat kṛtsnam, with all its moving and non-moving beings, sa-cara-acaram, all in one place, iha eka-stham, in My body, mama dehe! And whatever else you wish to see, yat ca anyat draṣṭum icchasi, see it now!"

"Na tu mām śakyase draṣṭum anena eva sva-cakṣuṣā divyam dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya me yogam aiśvaram."⁸ "But, na tu, you are not able, śakyase, to see Me, mām draṣṭum, with your own ordinary eyes, anena eva sva-cakṣuṣā! I give to you, dadāmi te, divine eyes, divyam cakṣuḥ! Now, see My inconceivable mystic power, paśya me yogam aiśvaram!"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: Divyam cakṣuḥ (div-yam chak-ṣuḥ) is 'divine eyes,' a special spiritual vision given by God. And yogam aiśvaram (yo-gam aish-va-ram) means 'inconceivable mystic power.' This is a huge moment, kids! God is literally giving Arjuna a superpower to see something no ordinary human can, showing His absolute control over everything!

The Dazzling Universal Form Appears⁹

graph TD B[Sanjaya describes Krishna showing Arjuna the supreme divine form.] B --> C[The form had countless mouths, eyes, and wonderful sights.] C --> D[It wore many divine ornaments and held various uplifted divine weapons.] D --> E[It wore divine garlands/dresses; smeared with divine fragrances; completely wonderful, unlimited, all-pervading.] E --> F[Light of thousands of suns might compare to its splendor.] F --> G[Arjuna saw the complete universe, divided many ways, all in one place within God's body.] G --> H[Overwhelmed with wonder, hair on end, Arjuna bowed and spoke with folded hands.]

Sanjaya then describes to blind King Dhritarashtra the awe-inspiring moment when Lord Krishna, the most powerful mystic, revealed His supreme, divine, universal form to Arjuna. It was a sight of unimaginable splendor, with countless mouths, eyes, ornaments, and weapons, shining like thousands of suns.

"Sañjayaḥ uvāca: evam uktvā tataḥ rājan mahā-yoga-īśvaraḥ Hariḥ darśayām āsa Pārthāya paramam rūpam aiśvaram."⁹ Sanjaya said: "Thus, evam uktvā, speaking to Arjuna, Pārthāya, O King, rājan, the most powerful mystic, mahā-yoga-īśvaraḥ, Lord Hari, Hariḥ, showed, darśayām āsa, His supreme, paramam, divine form, rūpam aiśvaram!"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: Mahā-yoga-īśvaraḥ (ma-haa-yo-ga-eesh-va-rah) means 'the Lord of all mystic power' or 'the greatest master of yoga.' This highlights Krishna's absolute control over all spiritual and material energies, allowing Him to manifest such an incredible form.

"Aneka-vaktra-nayanam aneka-adbhuta-darśanam aneka-divya-ābharaṇam divya-aneka-udyata-āyudham divya-mālya-ambara-dharam divya-gandha-anulepanam sarva-āścarya-mayam devam anantam viśvataḥ-mukham."¹⁰⁻¹¹ "The form had countless mouths, aneka-vaktra, and eyes, nayanam, with many wonderful sights, aneka-adbhuta-darśanam! It wore many divine ornaments, aneka-divya-ābharaṇam, and held various uplifted divine weapons, divya-aneka-udyata-āyudham! It wore divine garlands and dresses, divya-mālya-ambara-dharam, and was smeared with divine fragrances, divya-gandha-anulepanam! It was completely wonderful, sarva-āścarya-mayam, shining, devam, unlimited, anantam, and all-pervading, with faces everywhere, viśvataḥ-mukham!"

"Divi sūrya-sahasrasya bhavet yugapat utthitā yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syāt bhāsaḥ tasya mahā-ātmanaḥ."¹² "If in the sky, divi, thousands of suns, sūrya-sahasrasya, were to rise simultaneously, yugapat utthitā, their light, bhāḥ, might be comparable, sadṛśī, to the splendor, bhāsaḥ, of that great Lord, mahā-ātmanaḥ!"

"Tatra eka-stham jagat kṛtsnam pravibhaktam anekadhā apaśyat deva-devasya śarīre pāṇḍavaḥ tadā."¹³ "At that time, tadā, Arjuna, pāṇḍavaḥ, could see, apaśyat, the complete universe, jagat kṛtsnam, divided in many ways, pravibhaktam anekadhā, all in one place, eka-stham, within the body of God, deva-devasya śarīre!"

"Tatah saḥ vismaya-āviṣṭaḥ hṛṣṭa-romā dhanaṁjayaḥ praṇamya śirasā devam kṛta-añjaliḥ abhāṣata."¹⁴ "Thereafter, tataḥ, Arjuna, dhanaṁjaya, became overwhelmed with wonder, vismaya-āviṣṭaḥ, and his bodily hairs stood on end, hṛṣṭa-romā! Offering obeisances with his head, praṇamya śirasā, to God, devam, he began to speak with folded hands, kṛta-añjaliḥ abhāṣata!"

Arjuna Sees the Universe Within God¹⁵

graph TD B[Arjuna sees all gods and living entities in God's body; also Brahma, Shiva, sages, divine serpents.] B --> C[He sees God's unlimited form with countless arms, bellies, mouths, eyes; no beginning, middle, or end.] C --> D[Arjuna sees God crowned with helmets, holding maces/discs; a glowing mass of effulgence; difficult to see.] D --> E[God is blazing like fire and sun combined; immeasurable.] E --> F[Arjuna declares God is the infallible, supreme truth; the universe's basis; inexhaustible maintainer of eternal religion.] F --> G[He sees God without beginning/middle/end; unlimited glories/arms; eyes are moon/sun; mouth is blazing fire; heating universe.] G --> H[God pervades space between heaven/Earth and all directions; seeing His terrible form perturbs the three worlds.]

Arjuna, seeing this terrifying yet magnificent form, begins to describe what he witnesses within God's universal body. He sees all the gods, all beings, and even the great creators and destroyers, realizing the form has no beginning, middle, or end.

"Arjunaḥ uvāca: paśyāmi devān tava deva dehe sarvān tathā bhūta-viśeṣa-saṅghān brahmāṇam īśam kamala-āsana-stham ṛṣīn ca sarvān uragān ca divyān."¹⁵ Arjuna said: "O Lord, deva! I see all the gods, devān sarvān, in Your body, tava dehe! And also, tathā, all the specific groups of living entities, bhūta-viśeṣa-saṅghān! I see Brahmā, Lord Śiva (īśam), sitting on the lotus flower, kamala-āsana-stham, and all great sages, ṛṣīn sarvān, and also divine serpents, uragān ca divyān!"

"Aneka-bāhu-udara-vaktra-netram paśyāmi tvām sarvataḥ ananta-rūpam na antam na madhyam na punaḥ tava ādim paśyāmi viśva-īśvara viśva-rūpa."¹⁶ "O Lord of the universe, viśva-īśvara, O universal form, viśva-rūpa! I see You, paśyāmi tvām, on all sides, sarvataḥ, with countless arms, aneka-bāhu, bellies, udara, mouths, vaktra, and eyes, netram—an unlimited form, ananta-rūpam! I see no end, na antam, no middle, na madhyam, and no beginning, na punaḥ tava ādim, to You!"

"Kirīṭinam gadinam cakriṇam ca tejaḥ-rāśim sarvataḥ dīpti-mantam paśyāmi tvām durnirīkṣyam samantāt dīpta-anala-arka-dyutim aprameyam."¹⁷ "I see You, paśyāmi tvām, crowned with helmets, kirīṭinam, holding maces, gadinam, and discs, cakriṇam! You are a mass of effulgence, tejaḥ-rāśim, glowing everywhere, sarvataḥ dīpti-mantam! You are difficult to see, durnirīkṣyam samantāt, blazing like a fire and sun combined, dīpta-anala-arka-dyutim! You are immeasurable, aprameyam!"

"Tvam akṣaram paramam veditavyam tvam asya viśvasya param nidhānam tvam avyayaḥ śāśvata-dharma-goptā sanātanaḥ tvam puruṣaḥ mataḥ me."¹⁸ "You, tvam, are the infallible, akṣaram, supreme, paramam, truth to be understood, veditavyam! You are the supreme basis, param nidhānam, of this universe, asya viśvasya! You are inexhaustible, avyayaḥ, the maintainer of the eternal religion, śāśvata-dharma-goptā, the eternal Being, sanātanaḥ puruṣaḥ! This is my opinion, mataḥ me!"

"Anādi-madhya-antam ananta-vīryam ananta-bāhum śaśi-sūrya-netram paśyāmi tvām dīpta-hutāśa-vaktram sva-tejasā viśvam idam tapantam."¹⁹ "I see You, paśyāmi tvām, without beginning, middle, or end, anādi-madhya-antam! Your glories are unlimited, ananta-vīryam, and You have unlimited arms, ananta-bāhum! Your eyes are the moon and sun, śaśi-sūrya-netram! Your mouth is a blazing fire, dīpta-hutāśa-vaktram, and You are heating this universe, idam viśvam tapantam, with Your own radiance, sva-tejasā!"

"Dyauḥ ā-pṛthivyoḥ idam antaram hi vyāptam tvayā ekena diśaḥ ca sarvāḥ dṛṣṭvā adbhutam rūpam ugram tava idam loka-trayam pravyathitam mahā-ātman."²⁰ "The space between heaven and Earth, dyauḥ ā-pṛthivyoḥ idam antaram hi, is pervaded by You alone, vyāptam tvayā ekena! And all directions, diśaḥ ca sarvāḥ, are filled! O great one, mahā-ātman! Seeing this wonderful, adbhutam, and terrible, ugram, form of Yours, tava idam rūpam, the three planetary systems, loka-trayam, are perturbed, pravyathitam!"

A Vision of All-Consuming Time²¹

graph TD B[Gods are entering God's form; some fearful, some praying.] B --> C[Great sages and perfected beings sing hymns in wonder.] C --> D[All major gods, demons, and perfected beings behold God's form in wonder.] D --> E[Arjuna sees God's terrifying form with many faces, eyes, arms, bellies, horrible teeth; all planets are perturbed, and so is he.] E --> F[Arjuna sees God touching the sky, glowing, with open mouths and blazing eyes; he loses steadiness and peace.] F --> G[God's faces have terrible teeth like fire of death; Arjuna loses sense of direction and grace.] G --> H[Arjuna sees Dhritarashtra's sons and all warrior kings rushing into God's fearful, blazing mouths.] H --> I[Some are stuck between the teeth with smashed heads.] I --> J[Like rivers rushing to the ocean, human warriors enter God's blazing mouths.] J --> K[Like moths swiftly entering a blazing fire for destruction, people enter God's mouths.] K --> L[God is licking and devouring all people from all directions with blazing mouths.] L --> M[His terrible rays are scorching the universe, filling it with effulgence.] M --> N[Arjuna asks God to explain His fierce form and His mission; begs for grace.]

As Arjuna gazes upon the Universal Form, he sees a terrifying vision of destruction. He witnesses all the great warriors, even his own relatives, rushing into Krishna's blazing mouths, being crushed and consumed like rivers flowing into a raging ocean or moths flying into a blazing fire. Arjuna realizes this form is Time, Kāla, the destroyer, and is terrified, asking Krishna who He is and His true mission.

"Amī hi tvām sura-saṅghāḥ viśanti kecit bhītāḥ prāñjalayaḥ gṛṇanti svasti iti uktvā mahā-ṛṣi-siddha-saṅghāḥ stuvanti tvām stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ."²¹⁻²² "All these groups of gods, amī hi tvām sura-saṅghāḥ, are entering You, viśanti! Some, kecit, are fearful, bhītāḥ, offering prayers with folded hands, prāñjalayaḥ gṛṇanti, saying 'All peace, svasti iti!' Great sages and perfected beings, mahā-ṛṣi-siddha-saṅghāḥ, are singing hymns to You, stuvanti tvām stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ (Vedic hymns)!"

"Rudra-ādityāḥ vasavaḥ ye ca sādhyāḥ viśve aśvinau marutaḥ ca uṣma-pāḥ ca gandharva-yakṣa-asura-siddha-saṅghāḥ vīkṣante tvām vismitāḥ ca eva sarve."²² "All these Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Visvedevas, Ashvinis, Maruts, and forefathers, uṣma-pāḥ, and the assemblies of Gandharvas, Yakshas, demons, and perfected beings—they all, ca eva sarve, are beholding You, vīkṣante tvām, in wonder, vismitāḥ!"

"Rūpam mahat te bahu-vaktra-netram mahā-bāho bahu-bāhu-ūru-pādam bahu-udaram bahu-daṁṣṭrā-karālam dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitāḥ tathā aham."²³ "O mighty-armed one, mahā-bāho! Seeing Your great form, rūpam mahat te, with many mouths, bahu-vaktra, and eyes, netram! With many arms, bahu-bāhu, thighs, ūru, and legs, pādam! With many bellies, bahu-udaram, and many terrible, karālam, teeth, daṁṣṭrā! All the planets, lokāḥ, are perturbed, pravyathitāḥ, and so am I, tathā aham!"

"Nabhaḥ-spṛśam dīptam aneka-varṇam vyātta-ānanam dīpta-viśāla-netram dṛṣṭvā hi tvām pravyathita-antaḥ-ātmā dhṛtim na vindāmi śamam ca viṣṇo."²⁴ "O all-pervading Lord, Viṣṇo! Seeing You, dṛṣṭvā hi tvām, touching the sky, nabhaḥ-spṛśam, glowing, dīptam, with many colors, aneka-varṇam, with open mouths, vyātta-ānanam, and blazing, huge eyes, dīpta-viśāla-netram—my inner self, pravyathita-antaḥ-ātmā, is perturbed! I have no steadiness, dhṛtim na vindāmi, and no peace of mind, śamam ca!"

"Daṁṣṭrā-karālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvā eva kāla-anala-sannibhāni diśaḥ na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda deva-īśa jagat-nivāsa."²⁵ "Seeing Your faces, te mukhāni, with terrible teeth, daṁṣṭrā-karālāni, which are like the fire of death, kāla-anala-sannibhāni—I do not know the directions, diśaḥ na jāne, and I find no grace, na labhe ca śarma! O Lord of all lords, deva-īśa, O refuge of the worlds, jagat-nivāsa, please be pleased, prasīda!"

"Amī ca tvām dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ sarve saha eva avani-pāla-saṅghaiḥ bhīṣmaḥ droṇaḥ sūta-putraḥ tathā asau saha asmadīyaiḥ api yodha-mukhyaiḥ vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇāḥ viśanti daṁṣṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni kecit vilagnāḥ daśana-antareṣu sandṛśyante cūrṇitaiḥ uttama-aṅgaiḥ."²⁶⁻²⁷ "All these sons of Dhritarashtra, amī ca tvām dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ sarve, along with groups of warrior kings, saha eva avani-pāla-saṅghaiḥ, Bhishma, Drona, Karna (sūta-putraḥ), and also our chief warriors, saha asmadīyaiḥ api yodha-mukhyaiḥ—they are all rushing, tvaramāṇāḥ viśanti, into Your very fearful, bhayānakāni, mouths, vaktrāṇi te, with terrible teeth, daṁṣṭrā-karālāni! Some are seen, sandṛśyante, stuck between the teeth, daśana-antareṣu vilagnāḥ, with their heads smashed, cūrṇitaiḥ uttama-aṅgaiḥ!"

"Yathā nadīnām bahavaḥ ambu-vegāḥ samudram eva abhimukhāḥ dravanti tathā amī nara-loka-vīrāḥ viśanti vaktrāṇi abhivijvalanti."²⁸ "Just as the many waves of rivers, yathā nadīnām bahavaḥ ambu-vegāḥ, flow directly towards the ocean, samudram eva abhimukhāḥ dravanti—similarly, tathā, all these warrior kings, amī nara-loka-vīrāḥ, are entering Your blazing mouths, viśanti vaktrāṇi abhivijvalanti!"

"Yathā pradīptam jvalanam pataṅgāḥ viśanti nāśāya samṛddha-vegāḥ tathā eva nāśāya viśanti lokāḥ tava api vaktrāṇi samṛddha-vegāḥ."²⁹ "Just as moths, pataṅgāḥ, enter a blazing fire, pradīptam jvalanam, swiftly, samṛddha-vegāḥ, for their destruction, nāśāya viśanti—similarly, tathā eva, all people, lokāḥ, are entering Your mouths, tava api vaktrāṇi, swiftly, samṛddha-vegāḥ, for their destruction, nāśāya!"

"Lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāt lokān samagrān vadanaiḥ jvaladbhiḥ tejobhiḥ āpūrya jagat samagram bhāsaḥ tava ugrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo."³⁰ "O all-pervading Lord, Viṣṇo! You are licking, lelihyase, and devouring, grasamānaḥ, all people, lokān samagrān, from all directions, samantāt, with Your blazing mouths, vadanaiḥ jvaladbhiḥ! Your terrible rays, tava ugrāḥ bhāsaḥ, are scorching, pratapanti, the entire universe, jagat samagram, filling it with Your effulgence, tejobhiḥ āpūrya!"

"Ākhyāhi me kaḥ bhavān ugra-rūpaḥ namaḥ astu te deva-vara prasīda vijñātum icchāmi bhavantam ādyam na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim."³¹ "Please explain to me, ākhyāhi me, who You are, kaḥ bhavān, in this fierce form, ugra-rūpaḥ! My respects to You, namaḥ astu te! O great one among the gods, deva-vara, please be gracious, prasīda! I wish to know You, vijñātum icchāmi bhavantam, who are the original Being, ādyam! Indeed, hi, I do not know Your mission, na prajānāmi tava pravṛttim!"

Krishna Declares: I Am All-Devouring Time³²

graph TD B[God reveals: "I am Time, the destroyer of worlds; engaged in annihilating all people here."] B --> C[All soldiers on both sides will cease to exist, even without Arjuna's action.] C --> D[Therefore, Arjuna, get up and gain fame!] D --> E[Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom.] E --> F[All these warriors are already killed by God. Just be an instrument, O Savyasachi Arjuna!] F --> G[Destroy Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and other great warriors already killed by God.] G --> H[Do not be disturbed; just fight. You will conquer your enemies in the fight.]

Krishna then directly reveals His identity as Time, Kāla, the great destroyer. He states that all the warriors on the battlefield are already destined to die, regardless of Arjuna's actions. He instructs Arjuna to simply be His instrument in this pre-ordained destruction and assures him of victory.

"Śrī-bhagavān uvāca: kālaḥ asmi loka-kṣaya-kṛt pravṛddhaḥ lokān samāhartum iha pravṛttaḥ ṛte api tvām na bhaviṣyanti sarve ye avasthitāḥ prati-anīkeṣu yodhāḥ."³² Lord Krishna said: "I am Time, kālaḥ asmi, the destroyer of worlds, loka-kṣaya-kṛt! I am engaged, pravṛttaḥ, here, iha, in destroying all people, lokān samāhartum! Even without you, ṛte api tvām, all the soldiers, sarve yodhāḥ, who are situated on the opposite sides, ye avasthitāḥ prati-anīkeṣu, will not exist, na bhaviṣyanti!"

Dr. Suka Dev's Insight: Kālaḥ (kaa-lah) is a very important Sanskrit word, kids! It means 'Time,' but not just the time on a clock. It's the powerful, destructive force of Time that eventually devours everything in the material world. Krishna is saying He is that power! This is a huge revelation: the battle's outcome is already decided by God.

"Tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśaḥ labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyam samṛddham mayā eva ete nihatāḥ pūrvam eva nimitta-mātram bhava savya-sācin."³³ "Therefore, tasmāt, get up, uttiṣṭha! Gain fame, yaśaḥ labhasva! Conquer your enemies, jitvā śatrūn, and enjoy a flourishing kingdom, bhuṅkṣva rājyam samṛddham! All these warriors, ete, have already been killed by Me, mayā eva nihatāḥ pūrvam eva! Just be an instrument, nimitta-mātram bhava, O Savyasachi (Arjuna, 'one who can shoot with both hands')!"

"Droṇam ca bhīṣmam ca jayadratham ca karṇam tathā anyān api yodha-vīrān mayā hatān tvam jahi mā vyathiṣṭhāḥ yudhyasva jetā asi raṇe sapatnān."³⁴ "Destroy Drona, droṇam ca, and Bhishma, bhīṣmam ca, and Jayadratha, jayadratham ca, and Karna, karṇam tathā! Also, api, destroy other great warriors, anyān yodha-vīrān, who are already killed by Me, mayā hatān! Do not be disturbed, mā vyathiṣṭhāḥ! Just fight, yudhyasva! You will conquer your enemies, jetā asi raṇe sapatnān, in the fight!"

Arjuna Begs for a Return to Gentle Form³⁵

graph TD B[Sanjaya: Hearing Krishna's speech, Arjuna trembled; bowed with folded hands, then spoke with faltering voice, very fearful.] B --> C[Arjuna: Rightly, O Lord of senses, the world rejoices and becomes attached by Your glories.] C --> D[Demons flee in all directions out of fear; all perfected beings offer respects.] D --> E[Why should they not offer obeisances to You, O great one? You are greater than Brahma, the supreme creator, O unlimited God of gods, refuge of the universe!] E --> F[You are imperishable, beyond cause and effect.] F --> G[You are the original God, the oldest person, the supreme refuge of the universe.] G --> H[You are the knower and the knowable; the supreme refuge. You pervade the universe, O unlimited form!] H --> I[Arjuna offers respects from front, behind, and all sides; You are everything; of unlimited power and force; You cover everything; therefore You are everything.] I --> J[Arjuna apologizes for calling Krishna "O Krishna," "O Yadava," "O friend" presumptuously, out of foolishness or love, without knowing His glories.] J --> K[He asks forgiveness for any dishonor in relaxation, lying down, sitting, or eating together; alone or among companions.] K --> L[Arjuna confesses: "O infallible one, I ask forgiveness from You, who are immeasurable."] L --> M[Arjuna says he is gladdened by seeing the unseen form, but his mind is perturbed by fear.] M --> N[He begs God to show him His peaceful form again.] N --> O[Arjuna pleads: "Be pleased, O Lord of lords, O refuge of the universe!"] O --> P[He wishes to see Krishna in His helmet, with club, and disc in hand, in that four-handed form.] P --> Q[O thousand-handed one, O universal form, please become that form!]

Arjuna, trembling with fear and awe after witnessing the terrifying Universal Form, offers deep obeisances and praises Krishna as the supreme origin, father, guru, and refuge. He humbly apologizes for his previous familiarity with Krishna and begs Him to return to His peaceful, four-armed, or original human-like form, as he cannot bear the terrifying vision.

"Sañjayaḥ uvāca: etat śrutvā vacanam Keśavasya kṛta-añjaliḥ vepamānaḥ kirīṭī namaskṛtvā bhūyaḥ eva āha kṛṣṇam sa-gadgadam bhīta-bhītaḥ praṇamya."³⁵ Sanjaya said: "Hearing these words, etat śrutvā vacanam, of Krishna, Keśavasya, Arjuna, kirīṭī (meaning 'the crowned one'), trembled, vepamānaḥ! With folded hands, kṛta-añjaliḥ, and offering obeisances, namaskṛtvā, he again, bhūyaḥ eva, spoke to Krishna, kṛṣṇam, with a faltering voice, sa-gadgadam, very fearful, bhīta-bhītaḥ, offering deep respect, praṇamya!"

"Arjunaḥ uvāca: sthāne hṛṣīka-īśa tava prakīrtyā jagat prahṛṣyati anurajyate ca rakṣāṁsi bhītāni diśaḥ dravanti sarve namasyanti ca siddha-saṅghāḥ."³⁶ Arjuna said: "O master of all senses, hṛṣīka-īśa! It is right, sthāne, that the entire world, jagat, rejoices, prahṛṣyati, and becomes attached, anurajyate ca, by Your glories, tava prakīrtyā! The demons, rakṣāṁsi, flee in all directions, diśaḥ dravanti, out of fear, bhītāni! And all perfected human beings, sarve siddha-saṅghāḥ, offer You respects, namasyanti ca!"

"Kasmāt ca te na nameran mahā-ātman garīyase brahmaṇaḥ api ādi-kartre ananta deva-īśa jagat-nivāsa tvam akṣaram sat-asat tat param yat."³⁷ "O great one, mahā-ātman! Why should they not offer proper obeisances to You, kasmāt ca te na nameran? You are greater, garīyase, than Brahmā, brahmaṇaḥ api, who is the supreme creator, ādi-kartre! O unlimited, ananta, God of the gods, deva-īśa, O refuge of the universe, jagat-nivāsa! You are the imperishable, akṣaram, and beyond cause and effect, sat-asat tat param yat!"

"Tvam ādi-devaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ tvam asya viśvasya param nidhānam vettā asi vedyam ca param ca dhāma tvayā tatam viśvam ananta-rūpa."³⁸ "You are the original God, ādi-devaḥ, the oldest person, puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ! You are the supreme refuge, param nidhānam, of this universe, asya viśvasya! You are the knower, vettā, and what is to be known, vedyam, and the supreme refuge, param ca dhāma! You pervade the universe, tvayā tatam viśvam, O unlimited form, ananta-rūpa!"

"Vāyuḥ yamaḥ agniḥ varuṇaḥ śaśa-aṅkaḥ prajāpatiḥ tvam prapitāmahaḥ ca namaḥ namaḥ te astu sahasra-kṛtvaḥ punaḥ ca bhūyaḥ api namaḥ namaḥ te."³⁹ "You are the wind, vāyuḥ, Yama (god of death), yamaḥ, fire, agniḥ, Varuna (god of water), varuṇaḥ, the moon, śaśa-aṅkaḥ, and Brahma (Prajapati), prajāpatiḥ! You are also the great-grandfather, prapitāmahaḥ! My respects, namaḥ namaḥ te astu, to You a thousand times, sahasra-kṛtvaḥ, and again and again, punaḥ ca bhūyaḥ api namaḥ namaḥ te!"

"Namaḥ purastāt atha pṛṣṭhataḥ te namaḥ astu te sarvataḥ eva sarva ananta-vīrya amita-vikramaḥ tvam sarvam samāpnoṣi tataḥ asi sarvaḥ."⁴⁰ "My respects, namaḥ, to You from the front, purastāt, and also, atha, from behind, pṛṣṭhataḥ! My respects to You, namaḥ astu te, from all sides, sarvataḥ eva! O You who are everything, sarva! O unlimited power, ananta-vīrya, and unlimited force, amita-vikramaḥ! You cover everything, sarvam samāpnoṣi; therefore, tataḥ, You are everything, asi sarvaḥ!"

"Sakhā iti matvā prasabham yat uktam he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakhe iti ajānatā mahimānam tava idam mayā pramādāt praṇayena vā api yat ca avahāsa-artham asat-kṛtaḥ asi vihāra-śayyā-āsana-bhojaneṣu ekaḥ atha vā api acyuta tat-samakṣam tat kṣāmaye tvām aham aprameyam."⁴¹⁻⁴² "Thinking You were just a friend, sakhā iti matvā, whatever I said presumptuously, prasabham yat uktam—'O Krishna, he kṛṣṇa,' 'O Yadava, he yādava,' 'O my dear friend, he sakhe iti,'—without knowing Your glories, ajānatā mahimānam tava idam, either out of foolishness, pramādāt, or even out of love, praṇayena vā api! And whatever disrespect I showed You for joking, yat ca avahāsa-artham asat-kṛtaḥ asi, while relaxing, vihāra, lying down, śayyā, sitting, āsana, or eating together, bhojaneṣu, alone, ekaḥ, or among companions, atha vā api tat-samakṣam—O infallible one, acyuta! I ask forgiveness, tat kṣāmaye tvām aham, from You, who are immeasurable, aprameyam!"

"Pitā asi lokasya cara-acarasya tvam asya pūjyaḥ ca guruḥ garīyān na tvat-samaḥ asti abhyadhikaḥ kutaḥ anyaḥ loka-traye api apratima-prabhāva."⁴³ "You are the father, pitā, of the moving, cara, and non-moving, acarasya, world, lokasya! You are the worshipable, pūjyaḥ, master, guruḥ, and more glorious, garīyān, than any! O immeasurable power, apratima-prabhāva! There is no one equal to You, na tvat-samaḥ asti, how can there be anyone greater, kutaḥ anyaḥ abhyadhikaḥ, in the three planetary systems, loka-traye api!"

"Tasmāt praṇamya praṇidhāya kāyam prasādaye tvām aham īśam īḍyam pitā iva putrasya sakhā iva sakhyuḥ priyaḥ priyāyāḥ arhasi deva soḍhum."⁴⁴ "Therefore, tasmāt, offering obeisances, praṇamya, and laying down my body, praṇidhāya kāyam, I beg mercy from You, prasādaye tvām aham īśam īḍyam—the worshipable Lord! O my Lord, deva, You should tolerate me, soḍhum arhasi, just as a father tolerates his son, pitā iva putrasya, a friend tolerates a friend, sakhā iva sakhyuḥ, or a lover tolerates his dearest, priyaḥ priyāyāḥ!"

Krishna Reveals His True Form is Seen by Pure Love⁴⁵

graph TD B[God happily showed Arjuna His supreme, effulgent, unlimited, original universal form by His internal potency.] B --> C[No one else has seen this form before.] C --> D[Krishna states this form cannot be seen by Vedas, penance, charity, or worship.] D --> E[Only by undivided devotion is it possible to truly know, see, and and enter God.] E --> F[Sanjaya: Krishna showed His own form again and encouraged fearful Arjuna by becoming His beautiful human-like form.] F --> G[Arjuna: Seeing Your beautiful human form, I am now settled in consciousness and returned to my normal state.] G --> H[Krishna reiterates: This form Arjuna saw is very difficult to see; even the gods eternally aspire to see it.] H --> I[Krishna emphasizes His human-like form cannot be seen by Vedas, penance, charity, or worship as Arjuna has seen Him.] I --> J[Only by undivided devotion can one truly know, see, and enter Krishna.] J --> K[One engaged in God's work, who considers God Supreme, is devoted, free from material contamination, and without enemies among all beings, comes to God.]

Krishna assures Arjuna that the Universal Form is incredibly difficult to see and that no one else has seen it before. He emphasizes that this form cannot be seen through Vedic study, penance, charity, or worship, but only through pure, undivided devotional service. He then returns to His comforting human-like form, reassuring Arjuna.

"Adṛṣṭa-pūrvam hṛṣitaḥ asmi dṛṣṭvā bhayena ca pravyathitam manaḥ me tat eva me darśaya deva rūpam prasīda deva-īśa jagat-nivāsa."⁴⁵ "I am gladdened, hṛṣitaḥ asmi, by seeing what was never seen before, adṛṣṭa-pūrvam dṛṣṭvā! But my mind, manaḥ me, is also perturbed, pravyathitam, by fear, bhayena ca! O Lord, deva, please show me that gentle form, tat eva me darśaya rūpam, again! O Lord of lords, deva-īśa, O refuge of the universe, jagat-nivāsa, please be gracious, prasīda!"

"Kirīṭinam gadinam cakra-hastam icchāmi tvām draṣṭum aham tathā eva tena eva rūpeṇa catuḥ-bhujena sahasra-bāho bhava viśva-mūrte."⁴⁶ "I wish, icchāmi, to see You, tvām draṣṭum, just as You were, tathā eva, with Your helmet, kirīṭinam, with Your club, gadinam, and disc in hand, cakra-hastam! O thousand-handed one, sahasra-bāho, O universal form, viśva-mūrte! Please become that four-handed form, tena eva rūpeṇa catuḥ-bhujena bhava!"

"Śrī-bhagavān uvāca: mayā prasannena tava arjuna idam rūpam param darśitam ātma-yogāt tejaḥ-mayam viśvam anantam ādyam yat me tvat anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam."⁴⁷ Lord Krishna said: "O Arjuna, arjuna! Happily, mayā prasannena, I showed you, tava idam darśitam, this supreme, param, effulgent, tejaḥ-mayam, unlimited, anantam, original, ādyam, universal form, viśvam, by My internal potency, ātma-yogāt! This form of Mine, yat me, no one else, tvat anyena, has previously seen, na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam!"

"Na veda-yajña-adhyayanaiḥ na tapasā na dānena na ca kriyābhiḥ na tapobhiḥ ugraiḥ evam-rūpaḥ śakyaḥ aham nṛ-loke draṣṭum tvat anyena kuru-pravīra."⁴⁸ "O best among the Kuru warriors, kuru-pravīra! I, aham, cannot be seen in this form, evam-rūpaḥ śakyaḥ draṣṭum, in this human world, nṛ-loke, by anyone else, tvat anyena! Not by studying the Vedas, na veda-yajña-adhyayanaiḥ, nor by serious penances, na tapasā, nor by charity, na dānena, nor by pious activities, na ca kriyābhiḥ, nor by severe austerities, na tapobhiḥ ugraiḥ!"

"Mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍha-bhāvaḥ dṛṣṭvā rūpam ghoram īdṛk mama idam vyapeta-bhīḥ prīta-manāḥ punaḥ tvam tat eva me rūpam idam prapaśya."⁴⁹ "Let there be no trouble, mā te vyathā, and no bewilderment, mā ca vimūḍha-bhāvaḥ, for you! Seeing this horrible form of Mine, dṛṣṭvā rūpam ghoram īdṛk mama idam, be free from all fear, vyapeta-bhīḥ! With a pleased mind, prīta-manāḥ, you just see My original form again, punaḥ tvam tat eva me rūpam idam prapaśya!"

"Sañjayaḥ uvāca: iti arjunam vāsudevaḥ tathā uktvā svakam rūpam darśayām āsa bhūyaḥ āśvāsayām āsa ca bhītam enam bhūtvā punaḥ saumya-vapuḥ mahā-ātmā."⁵⁰ Sanjaya said: "Thus, iti, speaking to Arjuna, arjunam, Krishna, Vāsudevaḥ, showed His own form, svakam rūpam darśayām āsa, again, bhūyaḥ! And the great one, mahā-ātmā, encouraged the fearful Arjuna, āśvāsayām āsa ca bhītam enam, by becoming His beautiful human-like form, bhūtvā punaḥ saumya-vapuḥ!"

"Arjunaḥ uvāca: dṛṣṭvā idam mānuṣam rūpam tava saumyam janārdana idānīm asmi saṁvṛttaḥ sa-cetāḥ prakṛtim gataḥ."⁵¹ Arjuna said: "O Janardana, janārdana! Seeing Your beautiful human form, dṛṣṭvā idam mānuṣam rūpam tava saumyam, I am now settled in my consciousness, idānīm asmi saṁvṛttaḥ sa-cetāḥ, and have returned to my normal state, prakṛtim gataḥ!"

Wow, kids! What an incredible chapter! Lord Krishna opened Arjuna's eyes to His amazing Universal Form, showing him that He is everything—the creator, the maintainer, and even Time, the destroyer. Arjuna was terrified but also completely awestruck. And the ultimate lesson? That God's true form, and the way to truly connect with Him, is revealed only through pure, undivided love and devotion.

Next time, we'll dive into Chapter Twelve, where Arjuna asks about the best way to worship God. Get ready for more amazing lessons!