In Bhagavad Gita 11.10, Sanjaya describes the form with many mouths and eyes, many wondrous sights, many divine ornaments and many raised divine weapons.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
अनेकवक्त्रनयनम्
अनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम्
अनेकदिव्याभरणं
दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम् ॥ ११-१० ॥
anekavaktranayanam
anekādbhutadarśanam
anekadivyābharaṇaṃ
divyānekodyatāyudham
English transliteration anekavaktranayanam
anekaadbhutadarshanam
anekadivyaabharanam
divyaanekodyataayudham ॥ 11.10 ॥
Translation / Meaning
With many mouths and eyes, with many wondrous sights, with many divine ornaments and many divine weapons raised,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अनेकवक्त्रनयनम् anekavaktranayanam | with many mouths and eyes aneka (many) + vaktra (mouths) + nayanam (eyes) |
| अनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम् anekādbhutadarśanam | with many wondrous sights aneka (many) + adbhuta (wondrous) + darśanam (sights) |
| अनेकदिव्याभरणम् anekadivyābharaṇam | with many divine ornaments aneka (many) + divya (divine) + ābharaṇam (ornaments) |
| दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम् divyānekodyatāyudham | with many divine weapons raised divya (divine) + aneka (many) + udyata (raised) + āyudham (weapons) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–ne–ka–vak–tra–na–ya–nam– 8 syllables a-ne-ka-vak-tra-na-ya-nam-
- a–ne–kād–bhu–ta–dar–śa–nam | 8 syllables a-ne-kaad-bhu-ta-dar-sha-nam
- a–ne–ka–div–yā–bha–ra–ṇaṃ 8 syllables a-ne-ka-div-yaa-bha-ra-nam
- div–yā–ne–kod–ya–tā–yu–dham || 11-10 8 syllables div-yaa-ne-kod-ya-taa-yu-dham
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 11 Verse 10
Context
Sanjaya describes the cosmic form; the sentence continues into 11.11.
Meaning
The form has aneka, countless, mouths and eyes: it sees and speaks through all beings. It displays wondrous sights, divine ornaments and raised weapons. Every detail suggests infinite power and splendour.
The language overflows with “many”. Human description struggles to contain the infinite and can only pile up images.
In Practice
Reflect that the Divine sees through all eyes, including yours. Look at the world today as the Divine looking through you.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (The Vision of the Universal Form). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.