In Bhagavad Gita 11.19, Arjuna says he sees Krishna without beginning, middle or end, of infinite power and arms, with sun and moon as eyes and a blazing fire as mouth, scorching the universe with his radiance.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य-
मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्
पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रं
स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् ॥ ११-१९ ॥
anādimadhyāntamanantavīrya-
manantabāhuṃ śaśisūryanetram
paśyāmi tvāṃ dīptahutāśavaktraṃ
svatejasā viśvamidaṃ tapantam
English transliteration anaadimadhyaantamanantaveerya-
manantabaahum shashisooryanetram
pashyaami tvaam deeptahutaashavaktram
svatejasaa vishvamidam tapantam ॥ 11.19 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I see You without beginning, middle or end, of infinite power, with countless arms, the sun and moon as Your eyes, Your mouth a blazing fire, scorching this whole universe with Your radiance.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अनादिमध्यान्तम् anādimadhyāntam | without beginning, middle or end an (without) + ādi (beginning) + madhya (middle) + antam (end) |
| अनन्तवीर्यम् anantavīryam | of infinite power ananta (infinite) + vīryam (power) |
| अनन्तबाहुम् anantabāhum | with countless arms ananta (countless) + bāhum (arms) |
| शशिसूर्यनेत्रम् śaśisūryanetram | with sun and moon as eyes śaśi (moon) + sūrya (sun) + netram (eyes) |
| पश्यामि paśyāmi | I see |
| त्वाम् tvām | You |
| दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रम् dīptahutāśavaktram | with mouth a blazing fire dīpta (blazing) + hutāśa (fire) + vaktram (mouth) |
| स्वतेजसा svatejasā | with Your radiance sva (own) + tejasā (radiance) |
| विश्वम् viśvam | universe |
| इदम् idam | this |
| तपन्तम् tapantam | scorching |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–nā–di–madh–yān–ta–ma–nan–ta–vīr–ya– 11 syllables a-naa-di-madh-yaan-ta-ma-nan-ta-veer-ya-
- ma–nan–ta–bā–huṃ śa–śi–sūr–ya–net–ram | 11 syllables ma-nan-ta-baa-hum sha-shi-soor-ya-net-ram
- paś–yā–mi tvāṃ dīp–ta–hu–tā–śa–vak–traṃ 11 syllables pash-yaa-mi tvaam deep-ta-hu-taa-sha-vak-tram
- sva–te–ja–sā viś–va–mi–daṃ ta–pan–tam || 11-19 11 syllables sva-te-ja-saa vish-va-mi-dam ta-pan-tam
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 19
Context
Arjuna continues to describe the vision (11.15–11.31).
Meaning
The vision begins to grow fierce. The sun and moon are the Divine’s eyes; its mouth is a blazing fire. Its radiance scorches the whole universe. The Divine’s infinite power, ananta-vīrya, is both glorious and overwhelming.
The cosmic form is not only beautiful but awesome. The same power that creates and sustains also consumes. Arjuna begins to feel its intensity.
In Practice
Reflect on the power of nature, the sun’s heat or a storm, as an expression of the Divine’s immense energy.
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.