Bhagavad Gita · 11.16

Chapter 11, Verse 16

Vishwaroopa Darshana Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.

Original Sanskrit verse

अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम्। नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप।।11.16।।

Transliteration

aneka-bāhūdara-vaktra-netraṁ paśhyāmi tvāṁ sarvato ’nanta-rūpam nāntaṁ na madhyaṁ na punas tavādiṁ paśhyāmi viśhveśhvara viśhva-rūpa

Word meanings

aneka—infinite; bāhu—arms; udara—stomachs; vaktra—faces; netram—eyes; paśhyāmi—I see; tvām—you; sarvataḥ—in every direction; ananta-rūpam—inifinite forms; na antam—without end; na—not; madhyam—middle; na—no; punaḥ—again; tava—your; ādim—beginning; paśhyāmi—I see; viśhwa-īśhwara—The Lord of the universe; viśhwa-rūpa—universal form

English translation

I see You with boundless form on every side, with many arms, stomachs, mouths, and eyes; neither the end nor the middle nor the beginning do I see, O Lord of the Universe, O Cosmic Form.

— Swami Sivananda

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Listen to Shloka 11.16

Commentary

A thing that is limited by space and time has a begining; a middle and an end; but the Lord is omnipresent and eternal. He exists in the three periods of time -- past; present and future; but is not limited by time and space. Therefore He has neither a beginning nor middle nor end. Arjuna could have this divine vision only with the help of the divine eye bestowed upon him by the Lord. He who has supreme devotion to the Lord and on whom the Lord showers His grace can enjoy this wondrous vision.

Commentary by Swami Sivananda

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