Yathora

The Gita · Chapter 11

Bhagavad Gita 11.23

रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम्। बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालं दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाऽहम्॥

rūpaṁ mahat te bahu-vaktra-netraṁ mahā-bāho bahu-bāhūru-pādam bahūdaraṁ bahu-danṣhṭrā-karālaṁ dṛiṣhṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathāham

Translation

Thy mighty Form, with many mouths and eyes, Long armed, with thighs and feet innumerate, Vast-bosomed, set with many fearful teeth, The worlds see terror-struck, as also I.

What it means

Seeing Your vast form, with many mouths and eyes, many arms, thighs and feet, many bellies, terrible with many tusks, the worlds are panic-stricken, and so am I. Arjuna admits his own fear among the universal terror. The confession keeps him honest.

Try this today

Arjuna joins the trembling: witness and worlds share the response.

Something to reflect on

Can I admit fear honestly when everyone around me is also afraid?

Read it in Yathora
← 11.2211.24 →

Translation by Annie Besant (1905, public domain). The meanings are original to Yathora, drawn from Shankara’s commentary.