In Bhagavad Gita 11.27, Arjuna says the warriors rush into Krishna’s terrible mouths, and some are seen caught between the teeth with their heads crushed.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति
दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि
केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु
सन्दृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः ॥ ११-२७ ॥
vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti
daṃṣṭrākarālāni bhayānakāni
kecidvilagnā daśanāntareṣu
sandṛśyante cūrṇitairuttamāṅgaiḥ
English transliteration vaktraani te tvaramaanaa vishanti
damshtraakaraalaani bhayaanakaani
kechidvilagnaa dashanaantareshu
sandrishyante choornitairuttamaangaih ॥ 11.27 ॥
Translation / Meaning
they rush into Your terrifying mouths with their dreadful teeth. Some are seen caught between the teeth, their heads crushed to powder.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| वक्त्राणि vaktrāṇi | mouths |
| ते te | Your |
| त्वरमाणाः tvaramāṇāḥ | rushing |
| विशन्ति viśanti | enter |
| दंष्ट्राकरालानि daṃṣṭrākarālāni | with dreadful teeth |
| भयानकानि bhayānakāni | terrifying |
| केचित् kecit | some |
| विलग्नाः vilagnāḥ | caught |
| दशनान्तरेषु daśanāntareṣu | between the teeth daśana (teeth) + antareṣu (between) |
| सन्दृश्यन्ते sandṛśyante | are seen |
| चूर्णितैः cūrṇitaiḥ | crushed to powder |
| उत्तमाङ्गैः uttamāṅgaiḥ | with heads uttama (highest) + aṅgaiḥ (limbs) |
Word-wise Chanting
- vak–trā–ṇi te tva–ra–mā–ṇā vi–śan–ti 11 syllables vak-traa-ni te tva-ra-maa-naa vi-shan-ti
- daṃṣ–ṭrā–ka–rā–lā–ni bha–yā–na–kā–ni | 11 syllables damsh-traa-ka-raa-laa-ni bha-yaa-na-kaa-ni
- ke–cid–vi–lag–nā da–śa–nān–ta–re–ṣu 11 syllables ke-chid-vi-lag-naa da-sha-naan-ta-re-shu
- san–dṛś–yan–te cūr–ṇi–tai–rut–ta–māṅ–gaiḥ || 11-27 11 syllables san-drish-yan-te choor-ni-tai-rut-ta-maan-gaih
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 27
Context
The sentence begun in 11.26 is completed here.
Meaning
The warriors rush into the mouths of the cosmic form as if drawn by an irresistible force. Some are seen caught between its teeth. The vision shows that death in the coming battle is already determined.
The image is fearsome but its point is profound: all beings are swept into time’s mouth. Arjuna sees that he is not the one who decides who lives or dies.
In Practice
Reflect on the impermanence of all life, including your own, and let it make you more caring toward others today.
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.