In Bhagavad Gita 11.50, Sanjaya says that Vasudeva, having spoken thus, showed Arjuna his own form again, and the great one, assuming his gentle form, comforted the frightened Arjuna.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा
स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः
आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनं
भूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा ॥ ११-५० ॥
ityarjunaṃ vāsudevastathoktvā
svakaṃ rūpaṃ darśayāmāsa bhūyaḥ
āśvāsayāmāsa ca bhītamenaṃ
bhūtvā punaḥ saumyavapurmahātmā
English transliteration ityarjunam vaasudevastathoktvaa
svakam roopam darshayaamaasa bhooyah
aashvaasayaamaasa cha bheetamenam
bhootvaa punah saumyavapurmahaatmaa ॥ 11.50 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Arjuna, Vasudeva showed again His own form. And the great Being, assuming once more His gentle form, consoled the frightened Arjuna.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इति iti | thus |
| अर्जुनम् arjunam | to Arjuna |
| वासुदेवः vāsudevaḥ | Vāsudeva |
| तथा tathā | thus |
| उक्त्वा uktvā | having spoken |
| स्वकम् svakam | His own |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| दर्शयामास darśayāmāsa | showed |
| भूयः bhūyaḥ | again |
| आश्वासयामास āśvāsayāmāsa | consoled |
| च ca | and |
| भीतम् bhītam | frightened |
| एनम् enam | him |
| भूत्वा bhūtvā | assuming |
| पुनः punaḥ | again |
| सौम्यवपुः saumyavapuḥ | gentle form saumya (gentle) + vapuḥ (form) |
| महात्मा mahātmā | the great Being |
Word-wise Chanting
- it–yar–ju–naṃ vā–su–de–vas–ta–thok–tvā 11 syllables it-yar-ju-nam vaa-su-de-vas-ta-thok-tvaa
- sva–kaṃ rū–paṃ dar–śa–yā–mā–sa bhū–yaḥ | 11 syllables sva-kam roo-pam dar-sha-yaa-maa-sa bhoo-yah
- āś–vā–sa–yā–mā–sa ca bhī–ta–me–naṃ 11 syllables aash-vaa-sa-yaa-maa-sa cha bhee-ta-me-nam
- bhūt–vā pu–naḥ saum–ya–va–pur–ma–hāt–mā || 11-50 11 syllables bhoot-vaa pu-nah saum-ya-va-pur-ma-haat-maa
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 50
Context
Sanjaya describes the end of the vision (11.50).
Meaning
Krishna returns to svaka rūpa, his own familiar form, and to saumya-vapus, his gentle and pleasing appearance. He comforts the frightened Arjuna. The cosmic Lord becomes again the loving friend.
The Divine is both the infinite cosmic form and the intimate friend. It shows itself in whichever form we need.
In Practice
After a difficult experience, seek the gentle presence of the Divine and let it console you.
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.