In Bhagavad Gita 11.47, Krishna says that out of his grace he has shown Arjuna, through his own power, this supreme form, radiant, universal, infinite and primal, never seen before by anyone else.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं
रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात्
तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं
यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम् ॥ ११-४७ ॥
mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṃ
rūpaṃ paraṃ darśitamātmayogāt
tejomayaṃ viśvamanantamādyaṃ
yanme tvadanyena na dṛṣṭapūrvam
English transliteration mayaa prasannena tavaarjunedam
roopam param darshitamaatmayogaat
tejomayam vishvamanantamaadyam
yanme tvadanyena na drishtapoorvam ॥ 11.47 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: Out of My grace, O Arjuna, by My own yogic power, I have shown you this supreme form, full of radiance, universal, infinite and primal, which no one but you has seen before.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मया mayā | by Me |
| प्रसन्नेन prasannena | gracious |
| तव tava | to you |
| अर्जुन arjuna | O Arjuna |
| इदम् idam | this |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| परम् param | supreme |
| दर्शितम् darśitam | shown |
| आत्मयोगात् ātmayogāt | by My own yogic power ātma (own) + yogāt (yogic power) |
| तेजोमयम् tejomayam | full of radiance tejaḥ (radiance) + mayam (full) |
| विश्वम् viśvam | universal |
| अनन्तम् anantam | infinite |
| आद्यम् ādyam | primal |
| यत् yat | which |
| मे me | My |
| त्वदन्येन tvadanyena | by anyone other than you tvat (you) + anyena (other) |
| न na | not |
| दृष्टपूर्वम् dṛṣṭapūrvam | seen before |
Word-wise Chanting
- ma–yā pra–san–ne–na ta–vār–ju–ne–daṃ 11 syllables ma-yaa pra-san-ne-na ta-vaar-ju-ne-dam
- rū–paṃ pa–raṃ dar–śi–ta–māt–ma–yo–gāt | 11 syllables roo-pam pa-ram dar-shi-ta-maat-ma-yo-gaat
- te–jo–ma–yaṃ viś–va–ma–nan–ta–mād–yaṃ 11 syllables te-jo-ma-yam vish-va-ma-nan-ta-maad-yam
- yan–me tva–dan–ye–na na dṛṣ–ṭa–pūr–vam || 11-47 11 syllables yan-me tva-dan-ye-na na drish-ta-poor-vam
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 47
Context
Krishna explains the significance of the vision (11.47–11.49).
Meaning
The vision was a gift of prasāda, grace, granted by Krishna’s own ātma-yoga. It revealed a form tejomaya, made of radiance, universal, infinite and primal. No one else had seen it in this way before. Arjuna has been uniquely blessed.
Grace is the key. The deepest revelations are not earned by effort alone but freely given by the Divine.
In Practice
Give thanks for one gift in your life that came through grace rather than your own effort.
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.