In Bhagavad Gita 11.48, Krishna says that not by Vedic study, sacrifice, charity, rituals or severe austerities can he be seen in this form by anyone in the human world other than Arjuna.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै-
र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः
एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके
द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर ॥ ११-४८ ॥
na vedayajñādhyayanairna dānai-
rna ca kriyābhirna tapobhirugraiḥ
evaṃrūpaḥ śakya ahaṃ nṛloke
draṣṭuṃ tvadanyena kurupravīra
English transliteration na vedayajnaadhyayanairna daanai-
rna cha kriyaabhirna tapobhirugraih
evamroopah shakya aham nriloke
drashtum tvadanyena kurupraveera ॥ 11.48 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Not by study of the Vedas or sacrifices, not by charity, not by rituals, nor by severe austerities can I be seen in this form in the world of men by anyone other than you, O hero of the Kurus.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैः vedayajñādhyayanaiḥ | by study of the Vedas and sacrifices veda (Vedas) + yajña (sacrifices) + adhyayanaiḥ (study) |
| न na | not |
| दानैः dānaiḥ | by charity |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| क्रियाभिः kriyābhiḥ | by rituals |
| न na | not |
| तपोभिः tapobhiḥ | by austerities |
| उग्रैः ugraiḥ | severe |
| एवंरूपः evaṃrūpaḥ | in this form evam (this) + rūpaḥ (form) |
| शक्यः śakyaḥ | can be |
| अहम् aham | I |
| नृलोके nṛloke | in the world of men nṛ (men) + loke (world) |
| द्रष्टुम् draṣṭum | seen |
| त्वदन्येन tvadanyena | by anyone other than you |
| कुरुप्रवीर kurupravīra | O hero of the Kurus |
Word-wise Chanting
- na ve–da–ya–jñādh–ya–ya–nair–na dā–nai– 11 syllables na ve-da-ya-jnaadh-ya-ya-nair-na daa-nai-
- rna ca kri–yā–bhir–na ta–po–bhi–rug–raiḥ | 11 syllables rna cha kri-yaa-bhir-na ta-po-bhi-rug-raih
- e–vaṃ–rū–paḥ śak–ya a–haṃ nṛ–lo–ke 11 syllables e-vam-roo-pah shak-ya a-ham nri-lo-ke
- draṣ–ṭuṃ tva–dan–ye–na ku–rup–ra–vī–ra || 11-48 11 syllables drash-tum tva-dan-ye-na ku-rup-ra-vee-ra
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 48
Context
Krishna explains the significance of the vision (11.47–11.49).
Meaning
No human means, Vedic learning, ritual sacrifice, charity, religious works or severe austerity, can of itself produce this vision. It came to Arjuna as a gift. Krishna will explain in 11.54 what alone makes it possible.
The verse is not a dismissal of practice but a reminder that practice cannot command the Divine. It prepares us to receive; the gift itself is grace.
In Practice
Continue your practice today without expecting it to earn any particular experience.
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.