In Bhagavad Gita 11.51, Arjuna says that seeing Krishna’s gentle human form, he has now regained his composure and returned to his normal state.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं
तव सौम्यं जनार्दन
इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः
सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः ॥ ११-५१ ॥
dṛṣṭvedaṃ mānuṣaṃ rūpaṃ
tava saumyaṃ janārdana
idānīmasmi saṃvṛttaḥ
sacetāḥ prakṛtiṃ gataḥ
English transliteration drishtvedam maanusham roopam
tava saumyam janaardana
idaaneemasmi samvrittah
sachetaah prakritim gatah ॥ 11.51 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: Seeing this gentle human form of Yours, O Janardana, I have now regained my composure and returned to my natural state.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दृष्ट्वा dṛṣṭvā | seeing |
| इदम् idam | this |
| मानुषम् mānuṣam | human |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| तव tava | Your |
| सौम्यम् saumyam | gentle |
| जनार्दन janārdana | O Janārdana |
| इदानीम् idānīm | now |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| संवृत्तः saṃvṛttaḥ | become |
| सचेताः sacetāḥ | composed |
| प्रकृतिम् prakṛtim | natural state |
| गतः gataḥ | returned |
Word-wise Chanting
- dṛṣ–ṭve–daṃ mā–nu–ṣaṃ rū–paṃ 8 syllables drish-tve-dam maa-nu-sham roo-pam
- ta–va saum–yaṃ ja–nār–da–na | 8 syllables ta-va saum-yam ja-naar-da-na
- i–dā–nī–mas–mi saṃ–vṛt–taḥ 8 syllables i-daa-nee-mas-mi sam-vrit-tah
- sa–ce–tāḥ pra–kṛ–tiṃ ga–taḥ || 11-51 8 syllables sa-che-taah pra-kri-tim ga-tah
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 51
Context
Arjuna responds to the return of Krishna’s gentle form.
Meaning
Seeing the familiar mānuṣa rūpa, human form, Arjuna becomes sacetas, composed in mind, and returns to his prakṛti, his normal state. The overwhelming experience has passed, and he can breathe again.
After a peak experience, we must return to ordinary life. The vision changes us, but we live it out in our normal state.
In Practice
After a moment of deep prayer or meditation, take a few breaths to return gently to ordinary activity, carrying the peace with 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.