In Bhagavad Gita 11.31, Arjuna asks Krishna who he is in this fierce form, bows to him, asks for grace and says he wishes to know the Primal One, for he does not understand his purpose.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो
नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद
विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं
न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम् ॥ ११-३१ ॥
ākhyāhi me ko bhavānugrarūpo
namo’stu te devavara prasīda
vijñātumicchāmi bhavantamādyaṃ
na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim
English transliteration aakhyaahi me ko bhavaanugraroopo
namo’stu te devavara praseeda
vijnaatumichchhaami bhavantamaadyam
na hi prajaanaami tava pravrittim ॥ 11.31 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Tell me who You are, so fierce in form. I bow to You, O best of gods; be gracious. I wish to know You, the Primal One, for I do not understand what You are doing.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आख्याहि ākhyāhi | tell |
| मे me | me |
| कः kaḥ | who |
| भवान् bhavān | You |
| उग्ररूपः ugrarūpaḥ | fierce in form ugra (fierce) + rūpaḥ (form) |
| नमः namaḥ | salutation |
| अस्तु astu | be |
| ते te | to You |
| देववर devavara | O best of gods deva (gods) + vara (best) |
| प्रसीद prasīda | be gracious |
| विज्ञातुम् vijñātum | to know |
| इच्छामि icchāmi | I wish |
| भवन्तम् bhavantam | You |
| आद्यम् ādyam | the Primal One |
| न na | not |
| हि hi | for |
| प्रजानामि prajānāmi | I understand |
| तव tava | Your |
| प्रवृत्तिम् pravṛttim | purpose, activity |
Word-wise Chanting
- ākh–yā–hi me ko bha–vā–nug–ra–rū–po 11 syllables aakh-yaa-hi me ko bha-vaa-nug-ra-roo-po
- na–mo–‘stu te de–va–va–ra pra–sī–da | 11 syllables na-mo-‘stu te de-va-va-ra pra-see-da
- vi–jñā–tu–mic–chā–mi bha–van–ta–mād–yaṃ 11 syllables vi-jnaa-tu-mich-chhaa-mi bha-van-ta-maad-yam
- na hi pra–jā–nā–mi ta–va pra–vṛt–tim || 11-31 11 syllables na hi pra-jaa-naa-mi ta-va pra-vrit-tim
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 31
Context
Arjuna’s question leads to Krishna’s answer in 11.32.
Meaning
Overwhelmed, Arjuna asks: who are you? He bows and pleads for grace. He wants to understand the ādya, the Primal One, and the pravṛtti, the purpose behind this terrible activity.
Even after seeing so much, Arjuna wants to understand. The desire to know the meaning of what we experience is deeply human.
In Practice
When something you do not understand happens, bring your question honestly to the Divine.
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.