In Bhagavad Gita 11.49, Krishna tells Arjuna not to be afraid or bewildered at seeing his terrible form; free from fear and glad at heart, he should behold again his familiar form.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो
दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम्
व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं
तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य ॥ ११-४९ ॥
mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍhabhāvo
dṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ ghoramīdṛṅmamedam
vyapetabhīḥ prītamanāḥ punastvaṃ
tadeva me rūpamidaṃ prapaśya
English transliteration maa te vyathaa maa cha vimoodhabhaavo
drishtvaa roopam ghorameedrinmamedam
vyapetabheeh preetamanaah punastvam
tadeva me roopamidam prapashya ॥ 11.49 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Do not be afraid and do not be bewildered at seeing this terrible form of Mine. Free from fear and with a glad heart, behold again that same form of Mine.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मा mā | do not |
| ते te | your |
| व्यथा vyathā | fear |
| मा mā | do not |
| च ca | and |
| विमूढभावः vimūḍhabhāvaḥ | bewilderment vimūḍha (bewildered) + bhāvaḥ (state) |
| दृष्ट्वा dṛṣṭvā | seeing |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| घोरम् ghoram | terrible |
| ईदृक् īdṛk | such |
| मम mama | My |
| इदम् idam | this |
| व्यपेतभीः vyapetabhīḥ | free from fear vyapeta (free) + bhīḥ (fear) |
| प्रीतमनाः prītamanāḥ | with glad heart prīta (glad) + manāḥ (heart) |
| पुनः punaḥ | again |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| तत् tat | that |
| एव eva | same |
| मे me | My |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| इदम् idam | this |
| प्रपश्य prapaśya | behold |
Word-wise Chanting
- mā te vya–thā mā ca vi–mū–ḍha–bhā–vo 11 syllables maa te vya-thaa maa cha vi-moo-dha-bhaa-vo
- dṛṣ–ṭvā rū–paṃ gho–ra–mī–dṛṅ–ma–me–dam | 11 syllables drish-tvaa roo-pam gho-ra-mee-drin-ma-me-dam
- vya–pe–ta–bhīḥ prī–ta–ma–nāḥ pu–nas–tvaṃ 11 syllables vya-pe-ta-bheeh pree-ta-ma-naah pu-nas-tvam
- ta–de–va me rū–pa–mi–daṃ pra–paś–ya || 11-49 11 syllables ta-de-va me roo-pa-mi-dam pra-pash-ya
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 49
Context
Krishna reassures Arjuna before withdrawing the cosmic form (11.47–11.49).
Meaning
Krishna speaks tenderly: do not be afraid, do not be confused. The terrible form was a revelation, not a threat. Now, with fear gone and heart glad, Arjuna may see again the form he loves.
The Divine does not wish to frighten. It reveals what we need, then comforts us. Even the most overwhelming truths are given in love.
In Practice
When fear arises today, hear the Divine’s words: “Do not be afraid.”
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.