Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Verse 18.77
तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेः। विस्मयो मे महान् राजन् हृष्यामि च पुनः पुनः।।18.77।।
tach cha sansmṛitya saṁsmṛitya rūpam aty-adbhutaṁ hareḥ vismayo ye mahān rājan hṛiṣhyāmi cha punaḥ punaḥ
Word Meanings
tat—that; cha—and; sansmṛitya saṁsmṛitya—remembering repeatedly; rūpam—cosmic form; ati—most; adbhutam—wonderful; hareḥ—of Lord Krishna; vismayaḥ—astonishment; me—my; mahān—great; rājan—King; hṛiṣhyāmi—I am thrilled with joy; cha—and; punaḥ punaḥ—over and over again
Translation · English
And, remembering again and again that most wonderful form of Hari, I am filled with great wonder, O King; and I rejoice again and again.
Deep Meaning · English
In this penultimate reflection of the Bhagavad Gita, Sanjaya’s response to Dhritarashtra encapsulates the transformative power of divine remembrance. Having witnessed the Vishwarupa, or the Cosmic Form of Krishna, Sanjaya is no longer a mere reporter of a battlefield; he has been initiated into the eternal vision of the Divine. The repetition of the Sanskrit term 'samsmritya' (remembering repeatedly) reveals the mechanism of true Bhakti: it is not a fleeting emotional response, but a rhythmic, meditative dwelling upon the infinite majesty of the Lord. As Sanjaya dwells on the vision, his dual experience of 'vismaya' (astonishment) and 'hrishyami' (thrilling joy) illustrates the union of intellectual awe and heart-centered devotion. Philosophically, this verse highlights how the divine revelation transcends the limitations of time and space. Even as the Kurukshetra war rages, Sanjaya is anchored in a state of beatitude that effectively detaches him from the impending destruction. This is the ultimate goal of the Gita’s teachings: to attain a consciousness that perceives the underlying divinity behind the apparent duality of life. By repeatedly bringing the cosmic form into his awareness, Sanjaya demonstrates that liberation is found in shifting one’s perspective from the 'me' and 'mine' of the ego to the 'His' of the Divine, resulting in a state of constant, ecstatic wonder.
True spiritual realization is not a one-time intellectual epiphany, but a continuous practice of dwelling in the awe and joy of the Divine’s presence.
Connected Verses
The direct consequence of this remembrance, where the presence of Yoga and the Lord leads to certain victory and prosperity.
Captures the initial moment of Sanjay’s awe as he describes the overwhelming nature of the cosmic form to the blind king.
Validates the experience of 'hrishyanti cha ramanti cha'—rejoicing and taking delight in discussing the Divine.
Reflects the practice of constant remembrance (kirtayantash cha mam) as the core activity of the great souls.
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