THE COSMIC FORM OF THE LORD (FROM
BHAGAVADGITA)
BHAGAVADGITA)
The Gita, along with the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras, embodies the flights of spiritual thought and
philosophy of the seers of ancient India. It
contains the essence of the
practical philosophy of the Upanashads in language more easily comprehended
than that used in the latter. It is wrong to call it the scriptural text of
the Hindus only. The message of the Gita is
relevant for all times and for all
humanity. Sage Vedavyasa has embedded this treasure in
the heart of Mahabharata, the geat epic poem written by him. It has been appreciated and acclaimed by the
great thinkers and philosophers of the World and translated into the major
world languages. It is strange that this
great sermon was delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the most unusual of
settings, the battlefield of Kurukshetra
where the Pandava and Kaurava armies were facing each other and Arjuna’s
chariot, with Krishna as the charioteer, was stationed right in the middle of
the two armies.
philosophy of the seers of ancient India. It
contains the essence of the
practical philosophy of the Upanashads in language more easily comprehended
than that used in the latter. It is wrong to call it the scriptural text of
the Hindus only. The message of the Gita is
relevant for all times and for all
humanity. Sage Vedavyasa has embedded this treasure in
the heart of Mahabharata, the geat epic poem written by him. It has been appreciated and acclaimed by the
great thinkers and philosophers of the World and translated into the major
world languages. It is strange that this
great sermon was delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the most unusual of
settings, the battlefield of Kurukshetra
where the Pandava and Kaurava armies were facing each other and Arjuna’s
chariot, with Krishna as the charioteer, was stationed right in the middle of
the two armies.
In the following verses from the Gita, the Lord reveals his cosmic
form to Arjuna.
form to Arjuna.
भगवानुवाच-
पश्य मे पार्थ
रूपाणि
शतशोऽथ
सहस्रशः
रूपाणि
शतशोऽथ
सहस्रशः
नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च [११.५]
पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा
बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत [११.६]
]
इहैकस्थं जगकृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम्
मम देहे गुडाकेश
यच्चान्यद्द्रष्टुमिच्छसि [११.७]
यच्चान्यद्द्रष्टुमिच्छसि [११.७]
न तु मां शक्यसे
द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा
द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा
दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः
पश्य
मे योगमैश्वरम् [११.८]
पश्य
मे योगमैश्वरम् [११.८]
Behold, O son of Kunti, my divine forms, in hundreds and thousands,
various in kind and in multiplicity of colours (11.5).
various in kind and in multiplicity of colours (11.5).
Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Ashwins and the Maruts.
Behold many wonders, O Arjuna, that no man has seen before (11.6)
Behold many wonders, O Arjuna, that no man has seen before (11.6)
O Arjuna, behold all the worlds complete with everything, animate or
inanimate, in this body of mine and also
whatever else you want to see(11.7) .
inanimate, in this body of mine and also
whatever else you want to see(11.7) .
You will not be able to see this form of mine with your human eyes. I shall give you divine eyes with which behold
my extraordinary powers (11,8)
my extraordinary powers (11,8)
कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो
लोकान्समाहर्तुमिहप्रवृत्तः
ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे
येऽवस्थिता प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः
[११.३२[
[११.३२[
तस्मात्त्वमुत्थिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव
निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् [११.३३]
द्रोनं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं
च
च
कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान्
मया हतांस्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा:
युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् [११.३४]
I am Kala (Time or Death), eroding and
wearing off everything in the
universe. I am ready to gather unto
myself, destroy, all that is there in
the worlds. Even without you all those
warriors in the opposite camp will meet with their death (11.32).
wearing off everything in the
universe. I am ready to gather unto
myself, destroy, all that is there in
the worlds. Even without you all those
warriors in the opposite camp will meet with their death (11.32).
Therefore O Arjuna, stand up, vanquish your enemies , be
glorified and enjoy the kingdom rich in resources. All these (in the opposite camp)
have already been killed by me, strike
at them and be just the apparent cause of their death (11.33).
glorified and enjoy the kingdom rich in resources. All these (in the opposite camp)
have already been killed by me, strike
at them and be just the apparent cause of their death (11.33).
Kill Dorna, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and
other brave warriors who have already been put to death by me. Fight, you are sure to vanquish the enemy and
win this war (11.34)
other brave warriors who have already been put to death by me. Fight, you are sure to vanquish the enemy and
win this war (11.34)
मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं
रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात्
तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं
यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम् [११.४७]
न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै
र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः
एवं रूपः शक्य
अहं नृलोके
अहं नृलोके
द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर [११.४८]
मा ते व्यथा
मा च विमूढभावो
मा च विमूढभावो
दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदं
व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वम्
तदेव मे रूपमिदं
प्रपश्य
[११.४९]
प्रपश्य
[११.४९]
सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम
देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य
नित्यं
दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः [११.५२]
नित्यं
दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः [११.५२]
नाहं वेदैर्नतपसा न दानेन
न चेज्यया
न चेज्यया
शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा
[११.५३]
[११.५३]
भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य
अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन
अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन
ज्ञातुं द्रुष्टुं च तत्वेन
प्रवेष्टुं च परंतप [११.५४]
प्रवेष्टुं च परंतप [११.५४]
मत्कर्मकृत् मत्परमो मत्भक्तः संगवर्जितः
निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु यः स मामेति
पाण्डव[११.५५]
पाण्डव[११.५५]
O Arjuna, I am very pleased with you and so I have revealed to
you, by my yogic powers, .
you, by my yogic powers, .
this effulgent, all-encompassing, without-end and primeval form of mine
which has not been seen by any one else earlier (11.47).
which has not been seen by any one else earlier (11.47).
Neither through vedic knowledge, nor performance of yagnas, nor study
of scriptures, nor philanthropic gifts, nor
Vedic rites nor austerities ( tapas) shall this form of mine be viewed by any
mortal, other than you, O hero of the Kurus. (11.48).
of scriptures, nor philanthropic gifts, nor
Vedic rites nor austerities ( tapas) shall this form of mine be viewed by any
mortal, other than you, O hero of the Kurus. (11.48).
You need grieve no more, nor be bewildered after seeing my terrible
form. Be glad, take courage, and behold my earlier form (you are familiar with) (11.49)
form. Be glad, take courage, and behold my earlier form (you are familiar with) (11.49)
That cosmic form of mine which
you have seen is very difficult to behold. Even the devas themselves are always
longing to see it (11.52)
you have seen is very difficult to behold. Even the devas themselves are always
longing to see it (11.52)
Neither by study of the Vedas, nor by austerities, nor by philanthropic gifts, nor by
performance of yagnas can I be seen as you have seen me (11.53)
performance of yagnas can I be seen as you have seen me (11.53)
O Arjuna, only by single-minded and intense
devotion that Form of mine may be completely known, and seen and entered
into(11.54)
devotion that Form of mine may be completely known, and seen and entered
into(11.54)
Whosoever works for Me alone, makes Me his
only goal and is devoted to Me, free from attachment, and without enmity or hatred towards all beings shall enter into
Me, O Arjuna (11.55) .
only goal and is devoted to Me, free from attachment, and without enmity or hatred towards all beings shall enter into
Me, O Arjuna (11.55) .
