In Bhagavad Gita 11.21, Arjuna says the hosts of gods enter Krishna, some praise him in fear with joined palms, and the great sages and perfected ones praise him with abundant hymns.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति
केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति
स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः
स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ॥ ११-२१ ॥
amī hi tvāṃ surasaṅghā viśanti
kecidbhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti
svastītyuktvā maharṣisiddhasaṅghāḥ
stuvanti tvāṃ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ
English transliteration amee hi tvaam surasanghaa vishanti
kechidbheetaah praanjalayo grinanti
svasteetyuktvaa maharshisiddhasanghaah
stuvanti tvaam stutibhih pushkalaabhih ॥ 11.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
These hosts of gods enter into You; some, in fear, praise You with joined palms. Crying “May it be well!”, the hosts of great sages and perfected beings praise You with abundant hymns.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अमी amī | these |
| हि hi | indeed |
| त्वाम् tvām | into You |
| सुरसङ्घाः surasaṅghāḥ | hosts of gods sura (gods) + saṅghāḥ (hosts) |
| विशन्ति viśanti | enter |
| केचित् kecit | some |
| भीताः bhītāḥ | in fear |
| प्राञ्जलयः prāñjalayaḥ | with joined palms |
| गृणन्ति gṛṇanti | praise |
| स्वस्ति svasti | may it be well |
| इति iti | thus |
| उक्त्वा uktvā | saying |
| महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः maharṣisiddhasaṅghāḥ | hosts of great sages and perfected beings mahā (great) + ṛṣi (sages) + siddha (perfected) + saṅghāḥ (hosts) |
| स्तुवन्ति stuvanti | praise |
| त्वाम् tvām | You |
| स्तुतिभिः stutibhiḥ | with hymns |
| पुष्कलाभिः puṣkalābhiḥ | abundant |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–mī hi tvāṃ su–ra–saṅ–ghā vi–śan–ti 11 syllables a-mee hi tvaam su-ra-san-ghaa vi-shan-ti
- ke–cid–bhī–tāḥ prāñ–ja–la–yo gṛ–ṇan–ti | 11 syllables ke-chid-bhee-taah praan-ja-la-yo gri-nan-ti
- svas–tīt–yuk–tvā ma–har–ṣi–sid–dha–saṅ–ghāḥ 11 syllables svas-teet-yuk-tvaa ma-har-shi-sid-dha-san-ghaah
- stu–van–ti tvāṃ stu–ti–bhiḥ puṣ–ka–lā–bhiḥ || 11-21 11 syllables stu-van-ti tvaam stu-ti-bhih push-ka-laa-bhih
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 21
Context
Arjuna continues to describe the vision (11.15–11.31).
Meaning
Arjuna sees the gods themselves entering the Divine, returning to their source. Some fold their hands in fear and praise. The great sages and siddhas cry svasti, “may all be well”, and sing abundant hymns of praise.
Even the gods are dependent on the Divine. The response of the wise to the overwhelming is praise and a prayer for the welfare of all.
In Practice
Offer a prayer for the welfare of all beings today: “May all be well.”
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.