In Bhagavad Gita 11.45, Arjuna says he rejoices at seeing what was never seen before, but his mind is shaken with fear; he asks Krishna to show him again his familiar form.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा
भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे
तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपं
प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥ ११-४५ ॥
adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ hṛṣito’smi dṛṣṭvā
bhayena ca pravyathitaṃ mano me
tadeva me darśaya deva rūpaṃ
prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa
English transliteration adrishtapoorvam hrishito’smi drishtvaa
bhayena cha pravyathitam mano me
tadeva me darshaya deva roopam
praseeda devesha jagannivaasa ॥ 11.45 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I rejoice at having seen what was never seen before, yet my mind is shaken with fear. Show me, O God, only that other form of Yours. Be gracious, O Lord of the gods, refuge of the universe.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अदृष्टपूर्वम् adṛṣṭapūrvam | never seen before |
| हृषितः hṛṣitaḥ | rejoicing |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| दृष्ट्वा dṛṣṭvā | having seen |
| भयेन bhayena | with fear |
| च ca | and |
| प्रव्यथितम् pravyathitam | shaken |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
| मे me | my |
| तत् tat | that |
| एव eva | only |
| मे me | to me |
| दर्शय darśaya | show |
| देव deva | O God |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| प्रसीद prasīda | be gracious |
| देवेश deveśa | O Lord of the gods |
| जगन्निवास jagannivāsa | refuge of the universe |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–dṛṣ–ṭa–pūr–vaṃ hṛ–ṣi–to–‘smi dṛṣ–ṭvā 11 syllables a-drish-ta-poor-vam hri-shi-to-‘smi drish-tvaa
- bha–ye–na ca prav–ya–thi–taṃ ma–no me | 11 syllables bha-ye-na cha prav-ya-thi-tam ma-no me
- ta–de–va me dar–śa–ya de–va rū–paṃ 11 syllables ta-de-va me dar-sha-ya de-va roo-pam
- pra–sī–da de–ve–śa ja–gan–ni–vā–sa || 11-45 11 syllables pra-see-da de-ve-sha ja-gan-ni-vaa-sa
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 45
Context
Arjuna asks Krishna to withdraw the cosmic form (11.45–11.46).
Meaning
Arjuna is both hṛṣita, thrilled, and pravyathita, shaken. The vision has been a blessing, but it is too much for him to bear. He asks to see again the gentle form he knows and loves.
Arjuna’s request is honest and wise. Some revelations are too vast to live in permanently. We need the intimate, approachable form of the Divine to sustain a relationship.
In Practice
Reflect on which form of the Divine feels most approachable to you, and cherish it.
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.