Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Verse 11.31
आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद। विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम्।।11.31।।
ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo namo ’stu te deva-vara prasīda vijñātum ichchhāmi bhavantam ādyaṁ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛittim
Word Meanings
ākhyāhi—tell; me—me; kaḥ—who; bhavān—you; ugra-rūpaḥ—fierce form; namaḥ astu—I bow; te—to you; deva-vara—God of gods; prasīda—be merciful; vijñātum—to know; ichchhāmi—I wish; bhavantam—you; ādyam—the primeval; na—not; hi—because; prajānāmi—comprehend; tava—your; pravṛittim—workings
Translation · English
Tell me, who you are, so fierce of form. I offer my salutations to you, O God Supreme; have mercy on me. I desire to know you, the original Being. I do not indeed know your workings.
Deep Meaning · English
In this pivotal moment of the Gita, Arjuna’s previous wonder transforms into existential awe and a touch of trepidation. Having witnessed the Vishvarupa—the Cosmic Form where all of creation, death, and time converge—Arjuna realizes that the Krishna he knew as a companion is also the terrifying, all-consuming force of Kaala (Time). The 'fierce form' (ugra-rupa) represents the aspect of the Divine that destroys as much as it creates; it is the dissolution of ego-centered reality into the vast, impersonal structure of the cosmos. Arjuna’s plea, 'prasida' (be gracious), marks the transition from intellectual inquiry to total surrender. He recognizes that the intellect cannot map the topography of the Infinite, and he requests the Lord to revert to a form that is manageable for human consciousness, signaling the humility required to truly know the Divine. This verse captures the human predicament: the desire to know the Ultimate Truth vs. the inherent fear of confronting the raw, unconditioned power of the Absolute. By addressing Krishna as 'Adyam' (The Primeval), Arjuna acknowledges that even this terrifying destruction is rooted in the original source of all existence. His confusion regarding 'pravrttim' (Your workings) highlights the impossibility of understanding divine play (Lila) through dualistic, linear logic. He is effectively stating that the mystery of existence is beyond the reach of the senses, demanding an intuitive, devotional surrender to understand why such destruction is necessary for the cycle of dharma.
True wisdom begins where human comprehension fails, leading the seeker to move beyond the fear of divine power toward the grace of divine surrender.
Connected Verses
This highlights the 'ugra' nature of the Divine as having infinite power, suns for eyes, and a mouth like a flaming fire that consumes the world.
This establishes that any manifestation of power, beauty, or glory is but a tiny spark of the Lord’s infinite, incomprehensible splendor.
This verse reinforces that while the Lord pervades the entire universe in an unmanifest form, all beings rest within Him, transcending our ability to perceive Him.
Arjuna moves from the confusion of the battlefield to this same state of spiritual surrender, seeking refuge in the Lord’s instruction.
Community Insights
(0)Share your understanding of this verse with fellow seekers.
No insights yet. Be the first to share your understanding of this verse.