Arjuna said: Thou hast compassionately revealed to me the secret wisdom of the true Self, thus banishing my delusion.
O Lotus-Eyed (Krishna)! Thou hast told me extensively of the beginning and end of all beings, and of Thine eternal sovereignty.
O Great One! truly hast Thou thus declared Thyself. Yet, O Purushottama! I long to see Thee in Divine Embodiment (Thine Ishvara-Form).
O Master, O Lord of Yogis! if Thou deemest me able to see It, show to me Thine Infinite Self!
The Blessed Lord said: Behold, O son of Pritha (Arjuna)! by hundreds and by thousands My divine forms—multicolored, omnifarious!
Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the twin Ashvins, the Maruts, and many wonders hitherto unknown!
Here and now, O Conqueror of Sleep (Arjuna)! behold as unified in My Cosmic Body all worlds, all that moves or is motionless, and whatever else thou desirest to see.
But thou canst not see Me with mortal eyes. Therefore I give thee sight divine. Behold My supreme power of yoga!
Sanjaya said (to King Dhritarashtra): With these words Hari (Krishna), the exalted Lord of Yoga, revealed to Arjuna the Consummate Embodiment, the Cosmic-Bodied Ishvara-Form.
Arjuna saw the multifarious marvelous Presence of the Deity—infinite in forms, shining in every direction of space, omnipotence all-pervading, adorned with countless celestial robes and garlands and ornaments, upraising heavenly weapons, fragrant with every lovely essence, His mouths and eyes everywhere!
Arjuna saw the multifarious marvelous Presence of the Deity—infinite in forms, shining in every direction of space, omnipotence all-pervading, adorned with countless celestial robes and garlands and ornaments, upraising heavenly weapons, fragrant with every lovely essence, His mouths and eyes everywhere!
If a thousand suns appeared simultaneously in the sky, their light might dimly resemble the splendor of that Omnific Being!
There, resting within the infinite Form of the God of gods, Arjuna beheld the entire universe with all its diversified manifestations.
Then the Winner of Wealth (Arjuna), wonder-struck, his hair standing on end, his palms together in a prayerful gesture, bowing his head in awe before the Lord, addressed Him:
Arjuna said: Beloved Lord, Adored of gods! Behold, Thy body holds All fleshly tenants, seers fine, And diverse angel-gods divine. Dwelling deep in mystery cave, The Serpent Nature’s forceful crave, Though fierce and subtle, now is tame, Forgetful of her deadly game; And Sovran Brahma, God of gods, On lotus seat is snug secured.
Great Cosmic-Bodied Lord of worlds, Oh, I behold, again behold Thee all and everywhere, Thy countless arms, trunks, mouths, and eyes! Yet drooping, dark, my knowledge lies About Thy birth and reign and ending here.
This day, O Blazing, Furious Flame, O Blinding Ray, Thy focused power’s aglow: Thy Name Spreads everywhere To dark’st abysmal lair. Gilded with a crown of stars And wielding mace of sovereign power, Thou whirlest forth, O Burning Phoebus, Thine evolution’s circling discus.
Immortal Brahma, all Supreme, Thou Cosmic Shelter, Wisdom’s Theme, Eternal Dharma’s Guardian true, Thou diest not I ever knew!
O Birthless, Fleshless, Deathless One, I see Thine endless, working arms, Thine ever-watching eyes Of suns and moons, the staring skies; And from Thy mouth spumes throbbing flame, As utterest Thou the Aum, Thy Cosmic Name. Thy Self-born luster shields from harm, And all creation, distance-flung, doth warm.
O Sovereign Soul! ’twixt earth and home of gods, Directions all, and earthly sods, All high abodes and all encircling spheres, By Thee pervaded, far and near. The worlds-triune awestruck by fear, Thy dreadful wondrous form adore.
In Thee the gods their entry make; With folded hands, afraid, some pray to shelter take In Thee. The seers great, and heaven’s-path successful ones, With superb chants of “Peace!” do worship Thee and Thee alone.
Th’ eleven lamps of heaven; The twelve bright suns; The grizzly eight, The starry lusters great; Aspiring hermits; patron gods, The agents of the cosmic lords; The twin-born princes strong, Of valor known so long; Two-score and nine noil breezes’ force, That binds the atom close; The long-passed guardian spirits all; The demigoblins, demigods, and demons tall; And mighty ones in Spirit’s path, In wonder gaze upon Thy blazoned worth.
I Thee behold, Colossal-Armed! With starry eyes and countless cheeks, With endless hands, and legs adorned with lotus feet. Thy chasmed mouth with doomsday’s teeth Doth yawn to swallow swooning worlds above, beneath, And leaves a distilled joyous awe in me: Thy grandeur I and all are wonder-struck to see!
To view the bowels of the void deep all filled with Thee— Thy gaping mouth and diverse hues of fiery lustrous body— O Vishnu of the flaming sight, Thou quite o’erpowerest me, my peace dost fright.
Ferocious teeth and deadly fires do howl In mouths of Thine that at me scowl. Directions four are lost and gone; Compassion show! I find no peace alone; O Cosmic Guardian, Lord of gods, Be pleased t’accept my humble pleading words.
The sons of senses swayed with kingly pride, With ego, karmic habit, worldly lure, abide And wait to leap upon our wisdom’s chiefs; And yet they all do ride The race of death, to fall and hide Fore’er in Thy devouring mouth, Adorned with crushing cruel teeth uncouth.
The victor and the vanquished must (Thine offspring both, the righteous and ungodly ones) Thy love still claim; yet all some day shall kiss the dust, And sleep on common floor of earth. The shattered skulls of some are seen, As caught Thy greedy teeth between.
As diverse, restless, watery waves Of river branches all do crave To force through crowded wavelets’ way And meet where Neptune’s home long lay, E’en so, heroic streams of life Do plunge to meet in maddest strife Within Thy foaming mouth of flaming sea, Where sparks of lives all dance in Thee.
As insects lost in beauty’s game All swiftly, thoughtless, rush to flame, So fog-born passion’s fires pretend To glow like heavenly light of Thine, And draw on mortals to attend The trumpet call to deathly line.
Thy mouth ablaze Doth bring to gaze Its leaping tongues to lick The angry blood of strong and weak; Thou, Gourmand God, dost eat With hunger infinite. O Vishnu, Thou dost scorch The worlds with all-pervading fiery torch.
Be pleased, O First of gods; I ache to know, Primeval Lord, True who Thou art—O Fiery Mood, Yet so benign and good. Oh, tell to me Thy Royal Will; For it I know not still.
The Blessed Lord then said: In guise of Endless Doom I come as avaricious Time to seize and room In burning maw Of Mine the weaklings’ awe, And all the mortal meat Of weary worlds of deathly change, and treat Them with My nectar-life To new and fearless, better strife. E’en if thou dost forbear to slay Thy wicked foes, still they—and warriors all in brave array— Will sure and certain timely have to fall, Ah, in My righteous teeth-of-law, withal.
Arise, awake! Arise, awake! Dash thou upon the foe, the flesh a captive make; And win the victor’s fame With battle-hunted game; Wealth of the King Of Peace, and heaven’s kingdom, bring! I know right now the happenings all That mystic future forth doth call; And thus thy foes and warriors true, Long, long ago I slew, Ere shalt thine agent-hand (That I would wield to land Thy foes on death’s dim shore). Now understand!
My agent thou; Oh, this is how I work My plans—the universe— Through instruments diverse; ’Tis I who slew and yet will slay the senses’ train Through thee, as through both past and future ones, My soldiers sane!
Sanjaya said (to King Dhritarashtra): After hearing the words of Keshava (the maya-transcendent Krishna), the diademed one (Arjuna, haloed with cosmic vision), trembling and awestricken, joining his palms in worshipful supplication, again made humble obeisance and addressed Krishna in a quavering voice.
Arjuna said: O Hrishikesha (Krishna)! Rightly are the worlds proud and gladdened to exude Thy glory! The demons, terrified, seek safety in distance; while the multitudes of siddhas (perfected beings) bow down to worship Thee.
And why should they not pay Thee homage, O Vast Spirit? For greater art Thou than Brahma the Creator, who issued from Thee. O Infinite One, O God of gods, O Shelter of the Universe, Thou art the Imperishable—the Manifested, the Unmanifested, and That beyond (the Ultimate Mystery).
The Primal God art Thou! the Pristine Spirit, the Final Refuge of the Worlds, the Knower and the Known, the Supreme Fulfillment! Thine Omnipresence shines in the universe, O Thou of Inexhaustible Form!
O Flowing Life of Cosmic Currents (Vayu), O King of Death (Yama), O God of Flames (Agni), O Sovereign of Sea and Sky (Varuna), O Lord of Night (the Moon), O Divine Father of Countless Offspring (Prajapati), O Ancestor of All! To Thee praise, praise without end! To Thee my salutations thousandfold!
O Endless Might, O Invincible Omniscient Omnipresence, O All-in-All! I bow to Thee in front and behind, I bow to Thee on the left and the right, I bow to Thee above and beneath, I bow to Thee enclosing me everywhere!
Unaware of this, Thy Cosmic Glory, and thinking of Thee as a familiar companion, often have I audaciously hailed Thee as “Friend” and “Krishna” and “Yadava.” 10 For all such words, whether spoken carelessly or with affection;
And for any irreverence I have displayed toward Thee, O Unshakable Lord! in lighthearted mood at mealtimes or while walking or sitting or resting, alone with Thee or in others’ company—for all such unintentional slights, O Thou Illimitable! I beg forgiveness.
Father of All art Thou! of animate and inanimate alike. None but Thee is worthy of worship, O Guru Sublime! Unparalleled by any other in the three worlds, who may surpass Thee, O Lord of Power Incomparable?
Therefore, O Adorable One, I cast myself in obeisance at Thy feet to implore Thy pardon. As a father to his son, as a friend to a close friend, as a lover to his beloved, do Thou, O Lord, forgive me!
Overjoyed am I at having gazed upon a vision never seen before, yet my mind is not free from terror. Be merciful to me, O Lord of gods, O Shelter of the Worlds! Show to me only Thy Deva-form (as the benign Vishnu).
I long to see Thee as before, as the Four-Armed Vishnu, diademed and holding Thy mace and discus. Reappear in that same form, O Thou who art Thousand-Armed and Universe-Bodied!
The Blessed Lord said: I have graciously exercised Mine own Yoga Power to reveal to thee, O Arjuna, and to none other! this Supreme Primeval Form of Mine, the Radiant and Infinite Cosmos!
No mortal man, save only thyself, O Great Hero of the Kurus! is able to look upon My Universal Shape—not by sacrifices or charity or works or rigorous austerity or study of the Vedas is that vision attainable.
Be not affrighted or stupefied at seeing My Terrible Aspect. With dreads removed and heart rejoicing, behold once more My familiar form!
Sanjaya said (to King Dhritarashtra): After speaking thus, Vasudeva, “the Lord of the World,” resumed his own shape as Krishna. He, the Great-Souled One, appearing to Arjuna in the form of grace, consoled His fear-stricken devotee.
Arjuna said: O Granter of All Wishes (Krishna)! As I gaze on Thee again in gentle human shape, my mind is quieted and I feel more like my natural self.
The Blessed Lord said: Very difficult it is to behold, as thou hast done, the Vision Universal! Even the gods ever yearn to see it.
But it is not unveiled through one’s penance or scriptural lore or gift-giving or formal worship. O Scorcher of the Sense-Foes (Arjuna)! only by undivided devotion (commingling by yoga all thoughts in One Divine Perception) may I be seen as thou hast beheld Me in My Cosmic Form and recognized in reality and finally embraced in Oneness!
But it is not unveiled through one’s penance or scriptural lore or gift-giving or formal worship. O Scorcher of the Sense-Foes (Arjuna)! only by undivided devotion (commingling by yoga all thoughts in One Divine Perception) may I be seen as thou hast beheld Me in My Cosmic Form and recognized in reality and finally embraced in Oneness!
He who works for Me alone, who makes Me his goal, who lovingly surrenders himself to Me, who is nonattached (to My delusive cosmic-dream worlds), who bears ill will toward none (beholding Me in all)—he enters My being, O Arjuna!