In Bhagavad Gita 11.16, Arjuna says he sees Krishna with countless arms, bellies, mouths and eyes, infinite in form everywhere, without end, middle or beginning, O Lord of the universe.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं
पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम्
नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं
पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप ॥ ११-१६ ॥
anekabāhūdaravaktranetraṃ
paśyāmi tvāṃ sarvato’nantarūpam
nāntaṃ na madhyaṃ na punastavādiṃ
paśyāmi viśveśvara viśvarūpa
English transliteration anekabaahoodaravaktranetram
pashyaami tvaam sarvato’nantaroopam
naantam na madhyam na punastavaadim
pashyaami vishveshvara vishvaroopa ॥ 11.16 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I see You with many arms, bellies, mouths and eyes, infinite in form on every side. I see no end, no middle and no beginning of You, O Lord of the universe, O universal form.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रम् anekabāhūdaravaktranetram | with many arms, bellies, mouths and eyes aneka (many) + bāhu (arms) + udara (bellies) + vaktra (mouths) + netram (eyes) |
| पश्यामि paśyāmi | I see |
| त्वाम् tvām | You |
| सर्वतः sarvataḥ | on every side |
| अनन्तरूपम् anantarūpam | infinite in form ananta (infinite) + rūpam (form) |
| न na | not |
| अन्तम् antam | end |
| न na | not |
| मध्यम् madhyam | middle |
| न na | not |
| पुनः punaḥ | again |
| तव tava | Your |
| आदिम् ādim | beginning |
| पश्यामि paśyāmi | I see |
| विश्वेश्वर viśveśvara | O Lord of the universe viśva (universe) + īśvara (Lord) |
| विश्वरूप viśvarūpa | O universal form viśva (universal) + rūpa (form) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–ne–ka–bā–hū–da–ra–vak–tra–net–raṃ 11 syllables a-ne-ka-baa-hoo-da-ra-vak-tra-net-ram
- paś–yā–mi tvāṃ sar–va–to–‘nan–ta–rū–pam | 11 syllables pash-yaa-mi tvaam sar-va-to-‘nan-ta-roo-pam
- nān–taṃ na madh–yaṃ na pu–nas–ta–vā–diṃ 11 syllables naan-tam na madh-yam na pu-nas-ta-vaa-dim
- paś–yā–mi viś–veś–va–ra viś–va–rū–pa || 11-16 11 syllables pash-yaa-mi vish-vesh-va-ra vish-va-roo-pa
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 16
Context
Arjuna continues to describe the vision (11.15–11.31).
Meaning
Wherever Arjuna looks, the form extends infinitely. He cannot find its anta, end; madhya, middle; or ādi, beginning. He addresses the Divine as viśveśvara, Lord of all, and viśvarūpa, whose form is the universe itself.
The infinite has no edges. Every attempt to locate its boundaries fails. This is both overwhelming and liberating.
In Practice
Contemplate the idea of something without beginning or end. Let your mind rest in that vastness.
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.