In Bhagavad Gita 11.12, Sanjaya says that if the light of a thousand suns blazed forth at once in the sky, it might resemble the splendour of that great Being.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य
भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता
यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्
भासस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥ ११-१२ ॥
divi sūryasahasrasya
bhavedyugapadutthitā
yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syād
bhāsastasya mahātmanaḥ
English transliteration divi sooryasahasrasya
bhavedyugapadutthitaa
yadi bhaah sadrishee saa syaad
bhaasastasya mahaatmanah ॥ 11.12 ॥
Translation / Meaning
If the light of a thousand suns were to blaze forth all at once in the sky, that might resemble the splendour of that great Being.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दिवि divi | in the sky |
| सूर्यसहस्रस्य sūryasahasrasya | of a thousand suns sūrya (suns) + sahasrasya (thousand) |
| भवेत् bhavet | were to be |
| युगपत् yugapat | all at once |
| उत्थिता utthitā | blazing forth |
| यदि yadi | if |
| भाः bhāḥ | light |
| सदृशी sadṛśī | resembling |
| सा sā | that |
| स्यात् syāt | might be |
| भासः bhāsaḥ | splendour |
| तस्य tasya | of that |
| महात्मनः mahātmanaḥ | great Being |
Word-wise Chanting
- di–vi sūr–ya–sa–has–ras–ya 8 syllables di-vi soor-ya-sa-has-ras-ya
- bha–ved–yu–ga–pa–dut–thi–tā | 8 syllables bha-ved-yu-ga-pa-dut-thi-taa
- ya–di bhāḥ sa–dṛ–śī sā syād– 8 syllables ya-di bhaah sa-dri-shee saa syaad-
- bhā–sas–tas–ya ma–hāt–ma–naḥ || 11-12 8 syllables bhaa-sas-tas-ya ma-haat-ma-nah
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 12
Context
Sanjaya continues the description (11.9–11.14).
Meaning
Sanjaya reaches for the most powerful image he can find: the light of a thousand suns rising together. Even that, he says, might only approach the splendour of the cosmic form. The Divine’s radiance surpasses all comparison.
This is one of the most famous images of the Gita. It conveys a brilliance beyond imagination, a light that is not merely physical but the very essence of being.
In Practice
Close your eyes and imagine a radiance brighter than many suns, yet peaceful and loving. Rest in it.
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.