In Bhagavad Gita 11.20, Arjuna says that Krishna alone fills the space between heaven and earth and all directions; seeing his wondrous, terrible form, the three worlds tremble.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि
व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः
दृष्ट्वाद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं
लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन् ॥ ११-२० ॥
dyāvāpṛthivyoridamantaraṃ hi
vyāptaṃ tvayaikena diśaśca sarvāḥ
dṛṣṭvādbhutaṃ rūpamugraṃ tavedaṃ
lokatrayaṃ pravyathitaṃ mahātman
English transliteration dyaavaaprithivyoridamantaram hi
vyaaptam tvayaikena dishashcha sarvaah
drishtvaadbhutam roopamugram tavedam
lokatrayam pravyathitam mahaatman ॥ 11.20 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The space between heaven and earth, and all the directions, are filled by You alone. Seeing this wondrous and terrible form of Yours, O great Being, the three worlds tremble.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| द्यावापृथिव्योः dyāvāpṛthivyoḥ | between heaven and earth dyāvā (heaven) + pṛthivyoḥ (earth) |
| इदम् idam | this |
| अन्तरम् antaram | space |
| हि hi | indeed |
| व्याप्तम् vyāptam | filled |
| त्वया tvayā | by You |
| एकेन ekena | alone |
| दिशः diśaḥ | directions |
| च ca | and |
| सर्वाः sarvāḥ | all |
| दृष्ट्वा dṛṣṭvā | seeing |
| अद्भुतम् adbhutam | wondrous |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| उग्रम् ugram | terrible |
| तव tava | Your |
| इदम् idam | this |
| लोकत्रयम् lokatrayam | the three worlds loka (worlds) + trayam (three) |
| प्रव्यथितम् pravyathitam | tremble |
| महात्मन् mahātman | O great Being |
Word-wise Chanting
- dyā–vā–pṛ–thiv–yo–ri–da–man–ta–raṃ hi 11 syllables dyaa-vaa-pri-thiv-yo-ri-da-man-ta-ram hi
- vyāp–taṃ tva–yai–ke–na di–śaś–ca sar–vāḥ | 11 syllables vyaap-tam tva-yai-ke-na di-shash-cha sar-vaah
- dṛṣ–ṭvād–bhu–taṃ rū–pa–mug–raṃ ta–ve–daṃ 11 syllables drish-tvaad-bhu-tam roo-pa-mug-ram ta-ve-dam
- lo–kat–ra–yaṃ prav–ya–thi–taṃ ma–hāt–man || 11-20 11 syllables lo-kat-ra-yam prav-ya-thi-tam ma-haat-man
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 20
Context
Arjuna continues to describe the vision (11.15–11.31).
Meaning
The Divine fills all space by itself, ekena. Its form is both adbhuta, wondrous, and ugra, terrible. Seeing it, the three worlds, heaven, earth and the realm between, are pravyathita, shaken with fear.
Wonder and terror together: this is the experience of the infinite. The Divine is not only comforting but overwhelming in its majesty.
In Practice
Reflect on a moment when the vastness of life filled you with both wonder and fear.
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.