In Bhagavad Gita 11.3, Arjuna says that what Krishna has said of himself is so, yet he wishes to see Krishna’s divine form.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वम्
आत्मानं परमेश्वर
द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपम्
ऐश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ॥ ११-३ ॥
evametadyathāttha tvam
ātmānaṃ parameśvara
draṣṭumicchāmi te rūpam
aiśvaraṃ puruṣottama
English transliteration evametadyathaattha tvam
aatmaanam parameshvara
drashtumichchhaami te roopam
aishvaram purushottama ॥ 11.3 ॥
Translation / Meaning
It is just as You have described Yourself, O Supreme Lord. Yet I wish to see Your divine form, O Supreme Person.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एवम् evam | so |
| एतत् etat | this |
| यथा yathā | as |
| आत्थ āttha | You have described |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| आत्मानम् ātmānam | Yourself |
| परमेश्वर parameśvara | O Supreme Lord parama (supreme) + īśvara (Lord) |
| द्रष्टुम् draṣṭum | to see |
| इच्छामि icchāmi | I wish |
| ते te | Your |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| ऐश्वरम् aiśvaram | divine |
| पुरुषोत्तम puruṣottama | O Supreme Person |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–va–me–tad–ya–thāt–tha tvam– 8 syllables e-va-me-tad-ya-thaat-tha tvam-
- āt–mā–naṃ pa–ra–meś–va–ra | 8 syllables aat-maa-nam pa-ra-mesh-va-ra
- draṣ–ṭu–mic–chā–mi te rū–pam– 8 syllables drash-tu-mich-chhaa-mi te roo-pam-
- aiś–va–raṃ pu–ru–ṣot–ta–ma || 11-3 8 syllables aish-va-ram pu-ru-shot-ta-ma
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 3
Context
Arjuna makes his request (11.3–11.4).
Meaning
Arjuna does not doubt Krishna’s words. Yet hearing is not the same as seeing. He longs for darśana, direct sight of the aiśvara rūpa, the Divine’s sovereign cosmic form.
The longing to see what one believes is natural in sincere seekers. Faith seeks experience, and experience confirms faith.
In Practice
Ask yourself what aspect of the Divine you most long to experience directly. Hold that longing in prayer.
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.