Arjun

#1

You have, out of compassion, illuminated for me the highest mystery that is the Self. My misunderstanding has been cleared up as a result of your words.

#2

You have told me about your own supreme and boundless existence, O lotus-eyed one, and you have explained the beginning and the end of the existence of every living thing.

#3

It is now my deepest desire, O Lord, to behold your infinite glory in the very same way that you have described it. I have a vision of you ruling all of creation with absolute authority.

#4

Show me your immortal Self, O Lord, the guru of yoga, if you think I am powerful enough to see it.

Shri Krishna

#5

Behold, Arjuna, a million different divine forms, each one displaying a unique combination of hues and contours.

#6

Behold the gods of the natural world, along with a great many other wonders that have never been made public before.

#7

Behold, the entirety of the universe is turning inside of my body, in addition to the other things that you wish to see.

#8

However, your physical eyes are unable to see these things; therefore, I will give you spiritual vision so that you can comprehend the magnitude of my power.

Sanjay

#9

After uttering these words, Krishna, the guru of yoga, then revealed to Arjuna his highest, most lordly form.

#10

He appeared with an infinite number of faces, adorned with heavenly jewels, demonstrating never-ending miracles and the countless weapons that were at his disposal.

#11

He revealed himself to be the infinite Lord, the origin of all marvels, and the one whose face can be found in all places at once. He was garbed in heavenly garments, festooned with garlands, and exuding the sweet aroma of heavenly fragrances.

#12

If a thousand suns were to rise simultaneously in the heavens, the blaze of their combined light would be comparable to the splendour of that supreme spirit.

#13

There, inside the body of the God of gods, Arjun saw all the various forms that existed in the universe unified into a single entity.

#14

Incredulous to the point of ecstasy, with his hair standing on end from the experience, he bowed down before the Lord with his palms joined and spoke these words.

Arjun

#15

O Lord, I behold within your body each and every god as well as every imaginable kind of living thing. I see the ancient sages and the celestial serpents as well as Brahma, the Creator, seated on a lotus flower.

#16

I see an infinite number of mouths and arms, stomachs, and eyes, and throughout each of these forms, you are present. I can see you anywhere, at any time; there is no beginning, no middle, and no end. You are the Lord of all creation, and the universe is your physical home and dwelling place.

#17

Your radiance is both blinding and unfathomable; you are adorned with a crown, and you wield a mace and a discus. I see you, who are so difficult to look at, shining brightly, like a fiery sun that is blazing in all directions.

#18

You are the supreme reality; you are unchanging and the only thing that can be known. You are the safe haven for all of creation; you are the immortal spirit; you are the eternal guardian of the eternal dharma.

#19

You have no beginning, no middle, and no end; the infinite power that you possess allows you to touch everything. The sun and the moon are your eyes, and fire is your mouth; your brilliance keeps the universe at a comfortable temperature.

#20

The heavens and the earth are filled with your presence, and it extends in all directions. You are the Lord. When I consider this vision of your wondrous yet terrifying form, I see the three worlds shaking in fear.

#21

When they do, some of them will greet you in terror and call out to you as they enter your being. Large numbers of holy people praise you and pray, “May everything go well!”

#22

The vast number of gods, demigods, and demons are all overcome with awe when they look upon you.

#23

O mighty Lord, the very thought of your countless eyes and mouths, arms and legs, stomachs and terrifying teeth causes me and the entirety of the universe to tremble in terror.

#24

O Vishnu, I can see the light emanating from your eyes; as you smile, a rainbow of colours dance across your face, and the top of your body brushes against the clouds. When I look at you, my heart begins to quake, and I find that I have completely lost both my courage and my mental equilibrium.

#25

When I look into your mouths and see the terrifying teeth they contain, mouths that are raging like the fires that will consume the world at the end of time, I forget where I am and I have nowhere to go. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for you are the one who holds the universe together.

#26

I see all of Dhritarashtra’s sons, including Bhishma, Drona, and Karna; I see our warriors, as well as all the kings who have come to fight; and I see the battlefield.

#27

All are rushing into your awful jaws; I see some of them crushed by your teeth.

#28

Just as rivers empty into the ocean, so are all the warriors of this world falling prey to your blazing jaws;

#29

Every living thing hastens toward its own demise like a flock of moths drawn to a flame.

#30

You bring the worlds into your mouths, which are on fire, and swallow them. The entirety of creation erupts into flames as a result of the terrible radiance that you, O Vishnu, emanate.

#31

Please enlighten me, O Lord, you have such a terrifying appearance. Please have mercy on me as I bow before you. I am interested in learning more about you, the one who existed before the world was made. Your behaviour and the way you operate befuddle me.

Shri Krishna

#32

I am time, the one who brings destruction to all; I have arrived to devour the world. Even if you do nothing, every single one of the warriors that has gathered here will eventually perish.

#33

Consequently, it is time for you to rise, Arjun; defeat your foes and bask in the glory of your victory. I have already put an end to all of these warriors; you are merely going to serve as an instrument for me.

#34

Bhishma, Drona, Jayadratha, and Karna, along with a great number of others, have already been put to death. Kill those individuals whom I have already slain. You should not be hesitant. Fight your way through this conflict, and you will emerge victorious over your foes.

Sanjay

#35

Arjun was so terrified after hearing these words that he trembled. He prostrated himself in front of Krishna with his palms together and addressed him in a stuttering manner.

Arjun

#36

It is fitting, O Krishna, that the entire world takes pleasure and joy in praising you, that every holy person and wise person bow down before you, and that the presence of evil causes it to run away from you to the furthest reaches of the universe.

#37

Lord, how could it even be possible for them to not worship you? You are the eternal spirit, which existed before Brahma, the Creator, and which will never stop existing in any form or fashion. You, Lord of the Gods, are the centre of everything that exists in the universe. Changeless, you are what is and what is not, and beyond the duality of existence and nonexistence.

#38

You are the first among the gods, the spirit that has existed since the beginning of time, and the sanctuary for all living things. You are both the one doing the knowing and the thing that is being known. You are the ultimate abode, and with your limitless form, you can be found everywhere in the universe.

#39

You are the deities Vayu, who is the god of wind; Yama, who is the god of death; Agni, who is the god of fire; and Varuna, who is the god of water. You are the moon and Prajapati, the one who created everything, and you are the great-grandfather of all living things. I fall to my knees before you and offer you my utmost respect.

#40

You are both behind and in front of me, and I bow down to you from each and every angle. Your power is unparalleled in its scope. You are present everywhere and in everything because you are everything.

#41

Because we were friends, I would say things hastily at times like, “Oh, Krishna! What do you say, pal?” casual, careless remarks. Whatever it was that I might have said flippantly, whether we were playing or resting, whether we were by ourselves or with others, whether we were sitting together or eating,

#42

Please forgive me, O Krishna, if I have shown disrespect to you with my words. I was unaware of the greatness of your nature, which is constant and unending.

#43

You are the father of everything, both living and nonliving things; you are the centre of all worship, the most revered guru. You are the creator of everything. There is no one in any of the three worlds who can compare to you. Who else can compete with your strength?

#44

I fall to my knees before you, gracious Lord, and I beseech you to bestow your favour upon me. You ought to forgive me just as a father forgives his son, or as a friend forgives a friend, or as a lover forgives his beloved.

#45

I am overjoyed to be able to see you in a way that you have never been seen before, but at the same time, the realisation that you are the home of the universe fills me with dread. I beg you, God of gods, to let me see you as you truly are once more.

#46

Despite the fact that you are the physical manifestation of all creation, please show yourself to me not with a thousand arms but with four; you should be wearing a crown and carrying a mace and discus.

Shri Krishna

#47

Arjun, because of my grace, you have been united with me, and you have been given this vision of my radiant, universal form, which does not have a beginning or an end. No one else has ever seen this vision before.

#48

No other mortal has been able to see what you have seen, O valiant Arjun, not through knowledge of the Vedas, not through sacrifice, not through charity, not through rituals, and not even through severe asceticism.

#49

Do not be troubled; there is nothing to be afraid of in my monstrous form. If you look at me in the way that I was before, you can put your worries to rest and satisfy your heart at the same time.

Sanjay

#50

After saying these words, the Lord took on the form of Krishna again, who is known for his calm demeanour, and consoled his devotee, who had been overcome with fear.

Arjun

#51

O Krishna, now that I have witnessed your kind human form, my mind is once again at peace and has returned to its usual level of functioning.

Shri Krishna

#52

It is very difficult to obtain the vision that you have had; even the gods wish that they could always see me in this form.

#53

The vision you have seen cannot be attained through knowledge of the Vedas, austerity, charity, or sacrifice. All of these things are necessary, but none of them alone will do it.

#54

Arjun, however, if you have unwavering devotion, you will be able to know me, see me, and achieve union with me.

#55

Those who make me the supreme goal of all their work, who act without selfish attachment, who devote themselves to me completely, and who are free from ill will toward any creature, enter into me. Those who make me the supreme goal of all their work are the ones who enter into me.