In Bhagavad Gita 11.8, Krishna says Arjuna cannot see him with his own eyes, so he gives him divine sight to behold his sovereign power.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुम्
अनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा
दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः
पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ॥ ११-८ ॥
na tu māṃ śakyase draṣṭum
anenaiva svacakṣuṣā
divyaṃ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ
paśya me yogamaiśvaram
English transliteration na tu maam shakyase drashtum
anenaiva svachakshushaa
divyam dadaami te chakshuh
pashya me yogamaishvaram ॥ 11.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But you cannot see Me with these eyes of yours. I give you divine sight: behold My sovereign yoga.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| तु tu | but |
| माम् mām | Me |
| शक्यसे śakyase | you can |
| द्रष्टुम् draṣṭum | to see |
| अनेन anena | with these |
| एव eva | indeed |
| स्वचक्षुषा svacakṣuṣā | with your own eyes sva (own) + cakṣuṣā (eyes) |
| दिव्यम् divyam | divine |
| ददामि dadāmi | I give |
| ते te | to you |
| चक्षुः cakṣuḥ | sight |
| पश्य paśya | behold |
| मे me | My |
| योगम् yogam | yoga, power |
| ऐश्वरम् aiśvaram | sovereign |
Word-wise Chanting
- na tu māṃ śak–ya–se draṣ–ṭum– 8 syllables na tu maam shak-ya-se drash-tum-
- a–ne–nai–va sva–ca–kṣu–ṣā | 8 syllables a-ne-nai-va sva-cha-kshu-shaa
- div–yaṃ da–dā–mi te ca–kṣuḥ 8 syllables div-yam da-daa-mi te cha-kshuh
- paś–ya me yo–ga–maiś–va–ram || 11-8 8 syllables pash-ya me yo-ga-maish-va-ram
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 8
Context
Krishna grants Arjuna the means of seeing (11.5–11.8).
Meaning
Physical eyes cannot perceive the cosmic form. So Krishna grants divya cakṣus, divine sight. The vision is a gift of grace; Arjuna could not achieve it by his own power.
Spiritual vision is not a matter of physical perception. It requires a new kind of seeing that the Divine itself bestows.
In Practice
Pray today for the inner eye to see the Divine in ordinary things.
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.