In Bhagavad Gita 11.13, Sanjaya says Arjuna then saw the entire universe, divided in many ways, gathered together in the body of the God of gods.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं
प्रविभक्तमनेकधा
अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य
शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा ॥ ११-१३ ॥
tatraikasthaṃ jagatkṛtsnaṃ
pravibhaktamanekadhā
apaśyaddevadevasya
śarīre pāṇḍavastadā
English transliteration tatraikastham jagatkritsnam
pravibhaktamanekadhaa
apashyaddevadevasya
shareere paandavastadaa ॥ 11.13 ॥
Translation / Meaning
There, in the body of the God of gods, the son of Pandu then saw the entire universe, divided in many ways, gathered together in one.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तत्र tatra | there |
| एकस्थम् ekastham | gathered together in one |
| जगत् jagat | universe |
| कृत्स्नम् kṛtsnam | entire |
| प्रविभक्तम् pravibhaktam | divided |
| अनेकधा anekadhā | in many ways |
| अपश्यत् apaśyat | saw |
| देवदेवस्य devadevasya | of the God of gods |
| शरीरे śarīre | in the body |
| पाण्डवः pāṇḍavaḥ | the son of Pāṇḍu |
| तदा tadā | then |
Word-wise Chanting
- tat–rai–kas–thaṃ ja–gat–kṛt–snaṃ 8 syllables tat-rai-kas-tham ja-gat-krit-snam
- pra–vi–bhak–ta–ma–ne–ka–dhā | 8 syllables pra-vi-bhak-ta-ma-ne-ka-dhaa
- a–paś–yad–de–va–de–vas–ya 8 syllables a-pash-yad-de-va-de-vas-ya
- śa–rī–re pāṇ–ḍa–vas–ta–dā || 11-13 8 syllables sha-ree-re paan-da-vas-ta-daa
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 13
Context
Sanjaya continues the description (11.9–11.14).
Meaning
What Krishna promised in 11.7 now happens. Arjuna sees the whole universe in all its pravibhakta, many divisions, held together in a single place within the body of the deva-deva, the God of gods.
Unity does not erase diversity. All the distinctions remain, but they are seen within a single whole.
In Practice
Picture your family, community and world as parts of one living body. Act today for the good of the whole.
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.