In Bhagavad Gita 11.52, Krishna says the form Arjuna has seen is very hard to see; even the gods always long to behold it.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं
दृष्टवानसि यन्मम
देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य
नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ ११-५२ ॥
sudurdarśamidaṃ rūpaṃ
dṛṣṭavānasi yanmama
devā apyasya rūpasya
nityaṃ darśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ
English transliteration sudurdarshamidam roopam
drishtavaanasi yanmama
devaa apyasya roopasya
nityam darshanakaankshinah ॥ 11.52 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: This form of Mine that you have seen is very difficult to behold. Even the gods are ever longing to see this form.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सुदुर्दर्शम् sudurdarśam | very difficult to behold su (very) + durdarśam (difficult to see) |
| इदम् idam | this |
| रूपम् rūpam | form |
| दृष्टवान् dṛṣṭavān | have seen |
| असि asi | you |
| यत् yat | which |
| मम mama | My |
| देवाः devāḥ | the gods |
| अपि api | even |
| अस्य asya | this |
| रूपस्य rūpasya | form |
| नित्यम् nityam | ever |
| दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः darśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ | longing to see darśana (seeing) + kāṅkṣiṇaḥ (longing) |
Word-wise Chanting
- su–dur–dar–śa–mi–daṃ rū–paṃ 8 syllables su-dur-dar-sha-mi-dam roo-pam
- dṛṣ–ṭa–vā–na–si yan–ma–ma | 8 syllables drish-ta-vaa-na-si yan-ma-ma
- de–vā ap–yas–ya rū–pas–ya 8 syllables de-vaa ap-yas-ya roo-pas-ya
- nit–yaṃ dar–śa–na–kāṅ–kṣi–ṇaḥ || 11-52 8 syllables nit-yam dar-sha-na-kaan-kshi-nah
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 52
Context
Krishna reflects on the rarity of the vision (11.52–11.54).
Meaning
The form Arjuna has seen is sudurdarśa, extremely rare to behold. Even the gods long for it constantly. Arjuna has received what the highest beings yearn for.
This is a reminder of how precious spiritual grace is. What we receive may be what others long for for ages.
In Practice
Appreciate one spiritual blessing you have received, and resolve not to take it for granted.
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.