In Bhagavad Gita 11.4, Arjuna asks Krishna, if he thinks Arjuna is able to see it, to reveal his imperishable Self.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं
मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो
योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं
दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ॥ ११-४ ॥
manyase yadi tacchakyaṃ
mayā draṣṭumiti prabho
yogeśvara tato me tvaṃ
darśayātmānamavyayam
English transliteration manyase yadi tachchhakyam
mayaa drashtumiti prabho
yogeshvara tato me tvam
darshayaatmaanamavyayam ॥ 11.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
If You think that I am able to see it, O Lord, then, O Lord of yoga, reveal to me Your imperishable Self.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मन्यसे manyase | You think |
| यदि yadi | if |
| तत् tat | that |
| शक्यम् śakyam | possible |
| मया mayā | by me |
| द्रष्टुम् draṣṭum | to see |
| इति iti | thus |
| प्रभो prabho | O Lord |
| योगेश्वर yogeśvara | O Lord of yoga yoga (yoga) + īśvara (Lord) |
| ततः tataḥ | then |
| मे me | to me |
| त्वम् tvam | You |
| दर्शय darśaya | reveal |
| आत्मानम् ātmānam | Yourself |
| अव्ययम् avyayam | imperishable |
Word-wise Chanting
- man–ya–se ya–di tac–chak–yaṃ 8 syllables man-ya-se ya-di tach-chhak-yam
- ma–yā draṣ–ṭu–mi–ti pra–bho | 8 syllables ma-yaa drash-tu-mi-ti pra-bho
- yo–geś–va–ra ta–to me tvaṃ 8 syllables yo-gesh-va-ra ta-to me tvam
- dar–śa–yāt–mā–na–mav–ya–yam || 11-4 8 syllables dar-sha-yaat-maa-na-mav-ya-yam
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 4
Context
Arjuna completes his request (11.3–11.4).
Meaning
Arjuna asks humbly. He does not demand the vision; he leaves it to Krishna to judge whether he is ready. He calls Krishna yogeśvara, the master of all yoga, who alone can grant such a revelation.
Humility is the right attitude for asking. Arjuna trusts the teacher to know what he can bear. This is a model for prayer: ask, but leave the outcome to the Divine.
In Practice
Bring a sincere request to the Divine today, and add, “if You think it right.”
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.