In Bhagavad Gita 11.11, Sanjaya describes the divine form wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances, all-wondrous, infinite and facing every direction.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं
दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्
सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवम्
अनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम् ॥ ११-११ ॥
divyamālyāmbaradharaṃ
divyagandhānulepanam
sarvāścaryamayaṃ devam
anantaṃ viśvatomukham
English transliteration divyamaalyaambaradharam
divyagandhaanulepanam
sarvaashcharyamayam devam
anantam vishvatomukham ॥ 11.11 ॥
Translation / Meaning
wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine perfumes, full of every wonder, the resplendent, infinite God whose face is everywhere.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरम् divyamālyāmbaradharam | wearing divine garlands and garments divya (divine) + mālya (garlands) + ambara (garments) + dharam (wearing) |
| दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् divyagandhānulepanam | anointed with divine perfumes divya (divine) + gandha (perfumes) + anulepanam (anointed) |
| सर्वाश्चर्यमयम् sarvāścaryamayam | full of every wonder sarva (every) + āścarya (wonder) + mayam (full) |
| देवम् devam | the God |
| अनन्तम् anantam | infinite |
| विश्वतोमुखम् viśvatomukham | whose face is everywhere |
Word-wise Chanting
- div–ya–māl–yām–ba–ra–dha–raṃ 8 syllables div-ya-maal-yaam-ba-ra-dha-ram
- div–ya–gan–dhā–nu–le–pa–nam | 8 syllables div-ya-gan-dhaa-nu-le-pa-nam
- sar–vāś–car–ya–ma–yaṃ de–vam– 8 syllables sar-vaash-char-ya-ma-yam de-vam-
- a–nan–taṃ viś–va–to–mu–kham || 11-11 8 syllables a-nan-tam vish-va-to-mu-kham
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 11
Context
Sanjaya continues the description (continuing 11.10).
Meaning
The cosmic form is adorned like a deity in a temple, with divine garlands, clothing and fragrance. It is sarva-āścarya-maya, made entirely of wonder; ananta, without end; and viśvato-mukha, facing every direction at once.
The description engages all the senses: sight, smell, touch. The Divine is not abstract but overwhelmingly present.
In Practice
Engage your senses in worship today: offer a flower, light incense or simply enjoy a fragrance as a gift from the Divine.
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.