The Cosmic Formविश्वरूपदर्शनयोग

मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम्।
यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम॥

mad-anugrahāya paramaṁ guhyam adhyātma-saṁjñitam,
yat tvayoktaṁ vacas tena moho ‘yaṁ vigato mama.

Out of grace toward me you have spoken the supreme secret, the teaching about the Self. Through these words of yours my delusion is gone.

भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया।
त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम्॥

bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṁ śrutau vistaraśo mayā,
tvattaḥ kamala-patrākṣa māhātmyam api cāvyayam.

From you, O lotus-eyed one, I have heard in detail how beings come into being and pass away, and of your imperishable greatness.

एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर।
द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम॥

evam etad yathāttha tvam ātmānaṁ parameśvara,
draṣṭum icchāmi te rūpam aiśvaraṁ puruṣottama.

It is just as you have described yourself, O Supreme Lord. Yet I long to see your divine form, O Supreme Person.

मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो।
योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयाऽत्मानमव्ययम्॥

manyase yadi tac chakyaṁ mayā draṣṭum iti prabho,
yogeśvara tato me tvaṁ darśayā ‘tmānam avyayam.

If you think it possible for me to see it, O Lord, then, O master of yoga, show me your imperishable Self.

पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः।
नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च॥

paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi śataśo ‘tha sahasraśaḥ,
nānā-vidhāni divyāni nānā-varṇākṛtīni ca.

Behold, O Partha, my forms by the hundreds and thousands: divine, of many kinds, of many colours and shapes.

पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा।
बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याऽश्चर्याणि भारत॥

paśyādityān vasūn rudrān aśvinau marutas tathā,
bahūny adṛṣṭa-pūrvāṇi paśyā ‘ścaryāṇi bhārata.

See the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvins and the Maruts. See many wonders never seen before, O Bharata.

इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम्।
मम देहे गुडाकेश यच्चान्यद्द्रष्टुमिच्छसि॥

ihaika-sthaṁ jagat kṛtsnaṁ paśyādya sa-carācaram,
mama dehe guḍākeśa yac cānyad draṣṭum icchasi.

See here today, O Gudakesha, the whole universe, all that moves and does not move, gathered in one place within my body, and whatever else you wish to see.

न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा।
दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्॥

na tu māṁ śakyase draṣṭum anenaiva sva-cakṣuṣā,
divyaṁ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya me yogam aiśvaram.

But you cannot see me with these eyes of yours. I give you divine sight: behold my sovereign power.

एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः।
दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम्॥

evam uktvā tato rājan mahā-yogeśvaro hariḥ,
darśayām āsa pārthāya paramaṁ rūpam aiśvaram.

Having spoken thus, O King, Hari, the great master of yoga, then revealed to Arjuna his supreme and sovereign form.

अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम्।
अनेकदिव्याभरणं दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम्॥

aneka-vaktra-nayanam anekādbhuta-darśanam,
aneka-divyābharaṇaṁ divyānekodyatāyudham.

It had many mouths and eyes and many wondrous sights, many divine ornaments, and many divine weapons held high.

दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्।
सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवमनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम्॥

divya-mālyāmbara-dharaṁ divya-gandhānulepanam,
sarvāścarya-mayaṁ devam anantaṁ viśvato-mukham.

He wore divine garlands and garments and was anointed with divine fragrances: the God full of every wonder, infinite, with faces turned everywhere.

दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता।
यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः॥

divi sūrya-sahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthitā,
yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syād bhāsas tasya mahātmanaḥ.

If the light of a thousand suns were to blaze forth at once in the sky, it might perhaps resemble the splendour of that mighty Being.

तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा।
अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा॥

tatraika-sthaṁ jagat kṛtsnaṁ pravibhaktam anekadhā,
apaśyad deva-devasya śarīre pāṇḍavas tadā.

There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna then saw the entire universe, with its many divisions, gathered together as one.

ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः।
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत॥

tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo hṛṣṭa-romā dhanañjayaḥ,
praṇamya śirasā devaṁ kṛtāñjalir abhāṣata.

Then Arjuna, filled with wonder, his hair standing on end, bowed his head to the Lord and spoke with joined palms.

पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे
सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान्।
ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थ-
मृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान्॥

paśyāmi devāṁs tava deva dehe
sarvāṁs tathā bhūta-viśeṣa-saṅghān,
brahmāṇam īśaṁ kamalāsana-stha-
m ṛṣīṁś ca sarvān uragāṁś ca divyān.

In your body, O God, I see all the gods and hosts of every kind of being: Brahma the lord, seated on the lotus, and all the sages and the divine serpents.

अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं
पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम्।
नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं
पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप॥

aneka-bāhūdara-vaktra-netraṁ
paśyāmi tvāṁ sarvato ‘nanta-rūpam,
nāntaṁ na madhyaṁ na punas tavādiṁ
paśyāmi viśveśvara viśva-rūpa.

I see you everywhere, infinite in form, with countless arms, bellies, faces and eyes. I see in you no end, no middle and no beginning, O Lord of the universe, whose form is all things.

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च
तेजोराशिं सर्वतोदीप्तिमन्तम्।
पश्यामि त्वां दुर्निरीक्ष्यं समन्ता-
द्दीप्तानलार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम्॥

kirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ cakriṇaṁ ca
tejo-rāśiṁ sarvato dīptimantam,
paśyāmi tvāṁ durnirīkṣyaṁ samantā-
d dīptānalārka-dyutim aprameyam.

I see you crowned, bearing mace and discus, a mass of radiance shining on every side, hard to look upon, blazing all around like fire and sun, beyond all measure.

त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं
त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्।
त्वमव्ययः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता
सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे॥

tvam akṣaraṁ paramaṁ veditavyaṁ
tvam asya viśvasya paraṁ nidhānam,
tvam avyayaḥ śāśvata-dharma-goptā
sanātanas tvaṁ puruṣo mato me.

You are the Imperishable, the supreme truth to be known. You are the final refuge of this universe. You are the undying guardian of eternal dharma; you are, I am convinced, the everlasting Person.

अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य-
मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्।
पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रम्
स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम्॥

anādi-madhyāntam ananta-vīrya-
m ananta-bāhuṁ śaśi-sūrya-netram,
paśyāmi tvāṁ dīpta-hutāśa-vaktram
sva-tejasā viśvam idaṁ tapantam.

I see you without beginning, middle or end, of infinite power, with countless arms, the sun and moon your eyes, your mouth a blazing fire, scorching this universe with your radiance.

द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि
व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः।
दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं
लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन्॥

dyāvā-pṛthivyor idam antaraṁ hi
vyāptaṁ tvayaikena diśaś ca sarvāḥ,
dṛṣṭvā ‘dbhutaṁ rūpam ugraṁ tavedaṁ
loka-trayaṁ pravyathitaṁ mahātman.

The space between heaven and earth, and every direction, is filled by you alone. Seeing this wondrous and terrible form of yours, O great one, the three worlds tremble.

अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति
केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति।
स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः
स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः॥

amī hi tvāṁ sura-saṅghā viśanti
kecid bhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti,
svastīty uktvā maharṣi-siddha-saṅghāḥ
stuvanti tvāṁ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ.

Hosts of gods are entering into you; some, in fear, praise you with joined palms. Bands of great sages and perfected ones, calling out blessings for the good of all, praise you with abundant hymns.

रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या
विश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च।
गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घा
वीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे॥

rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā
viśve ‘śvinau marutaś coṣmapāś ca,
gandharva-yakṣāsura-siddha-saṅghā
vīkṣante tvāṁ vismitāś caiva sarve.

The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus and Sadhyas, the Vishvadevas, the two Ashvins, the Maruts and the ancestors, and hosts of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras and perfected ones, all gaze at you in amazement.

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

rūpaṁ mahat te bahu-vaktra-netraṁ
mahā-bāho bahu-bāhūru-pādam,
bahūdaraṁ bahu-daṁṣṭrā-karālaṁ
dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathā ‘ham.

Seeing your immense form, O mighty-armed one, with many mouths and eyes, many arms, thighs and feet, many bellies, and terrible with many fangs, the worlds are shaken, and so am I.

नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं
व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम्।
दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा
धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो॥

nabhaḥ-spṛśaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁ
vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viśāla-netram,
dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntarātmā
dhṛtiṁ na vindāmi śamaṁ ca viṣṇo.

Seeing you touching the sky, blazing in many colours, with mouths gaping wide and huge fiery eyes, my innermost self trembles, and I find neither steadiness nor peace, O Vishnu.

दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि
दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि।
दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म
प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास॥

daṁṣṭrā-karālāni ca te mukhāni
dṛṣṭvaiva kālānala-sannibhāni,
diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma
prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa.

Seeing your mouths with their dreadful fangs, like the fire at the end of time, I lose all sense of direction and find no comfort. Be gracious, O Lord of gods, home of the universe.

अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः
सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः।
भीष्मो द्रोणः सूतपुत्रस्तथाऽसौ
सहास्मदीयैरपि योधमुख्यैः॥

amī ca tvāṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ
sarve sahaivāvani-pāla-saṅghaiḥ,
bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sūta-putras tathā ‘sau
sahāsmadīyair api yodha-mukhyaiḥ.

All these sons of Dhritarashtra, together with the hosts of kings; Bhishma, Drona and Karna, the charioteer’s son; and the foremost warriors of our own side as well.

वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति
दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि।
केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु
संदृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः॥

vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti
daṁṣṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni,
kecid vilagnā daśanāntareṣu
saṁdṛśyante cūrṇitair uttamāṅgaiḥ.

They rush into your fearsome mouths, terrible with fangs. Some are seen caught between your teeth, their heads crushed to powder.

यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः
समुद्रमेवाभिमुखा द्रवन्ति।
तथा तवामी नरलोकवीरा
विशन्ति वक्त्राण्यभिविज्वलन्ति॥

yathā nadīnāṁ bahavo ‘mbu-vegāḥ
samudram evābhimukhā dravanti,
tathā tavāmī nara-loka-vīrā
viśanti vaktrāṇy abhivijvalanti.

As the many torrents of rivers rush toward the ocean, so these heroes of the world of men enter your flaming mouths.

यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा
विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः।
तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोका-
स्तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः॥

yathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ pataṅgā
viśanti nāśāya samṛddha-vegāḥ,
tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokā-
s tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddha-vegāḥ.

As moths rush at full speed into a blazing fire to perish, so these people rush at full speed into your mouths to perish.

लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ता-
ल्लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः।
तेजोभिरापूर्य जगत्समग्रं
भासस्तवोग्राः प्रतपन्ति विष्णो॥

lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantā-
l lokān samagrān vadanair jvaladbhiḥ,
tejobhir āpūrya jagat samagraṁ
bhāsas tavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo.

Swallowing all the worlds on every side with your flaming mouths, you lick them up. Your fierce rays fill the whole universe with radiance and scorch it, O Vishnu.

आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो
नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद।
विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं
न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम्॥

ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo
namo ‘stu te deva-vara prasīda,
vijñātum icchāmi bhavantam ādyaṁ
na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim.

Tell me who you are, in this fierce form. I bow to you, O best of gods; be gracious. I wish to know you, the Primal One, for I do not understand what you are doing.

कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो
लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः।
ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे
येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः॥

kālo ‘smi loka-kṣaya-kṛt pravṛddho
lokān samāhartum iha pravṛttaḥ,
ṛte ‘pi tvāṁ na bhaviṣyanti sarve
ye ‘vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ.

I am Time, grown mighty, the destroyer of worlds, come forth here to sweep the worlds away. Even without you, all the warriors arrayed in the opposing armies shall cease to be.

तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्।
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव
निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन्॥

tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham,
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sācin.

Therefore arise and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They have already been slain by me; be only the instrument, O ambidextrous archer.

Live it todayDo your part fully; you are an instrument, not the whole story.

द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च
कर्णं तथाऽन्यानपि योधवीरान्।
मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा
युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान्॥

droṇaṁ ca bhīṣmaṁ ca jayadrathaṁ ca
karṇaṁ tathā ‘nyān api yodha-vīrān,
mayā hatāṁs tvaṁ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā
yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān.

Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other great warriors have already been slain by me. Slay them, and do not be troubled. Fight: you will conquer your rivals in battle.

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य
कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी।
नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं
सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य॥

etac chrutvā vacanaṁ keśavasya
kṛtāñjalir vepamānaḥ kirīṭī,
namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṁ
sa-gadgadaṁ bhīta-bhītaḥ praṇamya.

Hearing these words of Keshava, the crowned Arjuna, trembling, joined his palms and bowed. Bowing low once more, overwhelmed with fear, he spoke to Krishna again in a faltering voice.

स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या
जगत् प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च।
रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्ति
सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः॥

sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā
jagat prahṛṣyaty anurajyate ca,
rakṣāṁsi bhītāni diśo dravanti
sarve namasyanti ca siddha-saṅghāḥ.

It is fitting, O Hrishikesha, that the world rejoices in your praise and is drawn to you in love. The demons flee in fear in every direction, and all the hosts of perfected ones bow to you.

कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्
गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे।
अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास
त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत्॥

kasmāc ca te na nameran mahātman
garīyase brahmaṇo ‘py ādi-kartre,
ananta deveśa jagan-nivāsa
tvam akṣaraṁ sad-asat tat paraṁ yat.

And why should they not bow to you, O great one, who are greater even than Brahma and are the first creator? O infinite Lord of gods, home of the universe, you are the Imperishable: being and non-being, and what lies beyond both.

त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराण-
स्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम्।
वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम
त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप॥

tvam ādi-devaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇa-
s tvam asya viśvasya paraṁ nidhānam,
vettāsi vedyaṁ ca paraṁ ca dhāma
tvayā tataṁ viśvam ananta-rūpa.

You are the first God, the ancient Person; you are the supreme resting place of this universe. You are the knower and what is to be known, and the highest abode. By you this whole universe is pervaded, O you of infinite forms.

वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः
प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च।
नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वः
पुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते॥

vāyur yamo ‘gnir varuṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ
prajāpatis tvaṁ prapitāmahaś ca,
namo namas te ‘stu sahasra-kṛtvaḥ
punaś ca bhūyo ‘pi namo namas te.

You are Vayu, Yama, Agni, Varuna and the moon; you are Prajapati and the great-grandfather of all. Salutations to you a thousand times, and again and yet again, salutations to you.

नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते
नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व।
अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं
सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः॥

namaḥ purastād atha pṛṣṭhatas te
namo ‘stu te sarvata eva sarva,
ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas tvaṁ
sarvaṁ samāpnoṣi tato ‘si sarvaḥ.

Salutations to you in front and behind; salutations to you on every side, O All. Infinite in power and boundless in might, you pervade everything, and so you are everything.

Live it todayWherever you turn today, there is something worth bowing to.

सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं
हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति।
अजानता महिमानं तवेदं
मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि॥

sakheti matvā prasabhaṁ yad uktaṁ
he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakheti,
ajānatā mahimānaṁ tavedaṁ
mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi.

Thinking of you as just a friend, I boldly called you Krishna, Yadava, my friend, not knowing this greatness of yours. I did it through carelessness, or out of affection.

यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि
विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु।
एकोऽथवाप्यच्युत तत्समक्षं
तत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम्॥

yac cāvahāsārtham asat-kṛto ‘si
vihāra-śayyāsana-bhojaneṣu,
eko ‘thavāpy acyuta tat-samakṣaṁ
tat kṣāmaye tvām aham aprameyam.

And if in jest I treated you without due respect, while at play, resting, sitting or eating, alone or in front of others, O Achyuta, for all that I ask forgiveness of you, the immeasurable one.

Live it todayCloseness can make us careless; ask pardon of those you take for granted.

पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य
त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान्।
न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो
लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव॥

pitāsi lokasya carācarasya
tvam asya pūjyaś ca gurur garīyān,
na tvat-samo ‘sty abhyadhikaḥ kuto ‘nyo
loka-traye ‘py apratima-prabhāva.

You are the father of this world, of all that moves and does not move. You are its object of worship and its greatest teacher. None is equal to you in the three worlds; how could anyone be greater, O you of matchless power?

तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं
प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम्।
पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः
प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम्॥

tasmāt praṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṁ
prasādaye tvām aham īśam īḍyam,
piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ
priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum.

Therefore, bowing down and laying my body low before you, I seek your grace, O adorable Lord. As a father bears with his son, a friend with a friend, a lover with the beloved, so please bear with me, O God.

Live it todayBring your mistakes to God as you would to a loving father or friend.

अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा
भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे।
तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपं
प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास॥

adṛṣṭa-pūrvaṁ hṛṣito ‘smi dṛṣṭvā
bhayena ca pravyathitaṁ mano me,
tad eva me darśaya deva rūpaṁ
prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa.

I rejoice at seeing what was never seen before, yet my mind is shaken with fear. Show me, O God, that same form of yours; be gracious, O Lord of gods, home of the universe.

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्त-
मिच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव।
तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेन
सहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते॥

kirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ cakra-hasta-
m icchāmi tvāṁ draṣṭum ahaṁ tathaiva,
tenaiva rūpeṇa catur-bhujena
sahasra-bāho bhava viśva-mūrte.

I wish to see you as before, crowned, with mace and discus in hand. Take that same four-armed form again, O thousand-armed one, whose form is the universe.

मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं
रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात्।
तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं
यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम्॥

mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṁ
rūpaṁ paraṁ darśitam ātma-yogāt,
tejo-mayaṁ viśvam anantam ādyaṁ
yan me tvad-anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam.

Being pleased with you, Arjuna, I have shown you by my own power this supreme form, radiant, universal, infinite and primal, which no one but you has ever seen.

न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै-
र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः।
एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके
द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर॥

na veda-yajñādhyayanair na dānai-
r na ca kriyābhir na tapobhir ugraiḥ,
evaṁ-rūpaḥ śakya ahaṁ nṛ-loke
draṣṭuṁ tvad-anyena kuru-pravīra.

Not by study of the Vedas and sacrifices, not by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by severe austerities can I be seen in this form in the world of men by anyone but you, O hero of the Kurus.

मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो
दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम्।
व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं
तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य॥

mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍha-bhāvo
dṛṣṭvā rūpaṁ ghoram īdṛṅ mamedam,
vyapeta-bhīḥ prīta-manāḥ punas tvaṁ
tad eva me rūpam idaṁ prapaśya.

Do not be afraid or bewildered at seeing this terrible form of mine. Free from fear and glad at heart, behold again that same form of mine.

Live it todayWhen the vastness frightens you, return to the gentle face of God you know.

इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा
स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः।
आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनं
भूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा॥

ity arjunaṁ vāsudevas tathoktvā
svakaṁ rūpaṁ darśayām āsa bhūyaḥ,
āśvāsayām āsa ca bhītam enaṁ
bhūtvā punaḥ saumya-vapur mahātmā.

Having spoken thus to Arjuna, Vasudeva showed his own form once more. Taking again his gentle form, the great-souled one consoled the frightened Arjuna.

दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तव सौम्यं जनार्दन।
इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः॥

dṛṣṭvedaṁ mānuṣaṁ rūpaṁ tava saumyaṁ janārdana,
idānīm asmi saṁvṛttaḥ sa-cetāḥ prakṛtiṁ gataḥ.

Seeing this gentle human form of yours, O Janardana, I am now composed, and my mind has returned to its natural state.

सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम।
देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः॥

su-durdarśam idaṁ rūpaṁ dṛṣṭavān asi yan mama,
devā apy asya rūpasya nityaṁ darśana-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ.

This form of mine that you have seen is very hard to behold. Even the gods always long for a vision of it.

नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया।
शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा॥

nāhaṁ vedair na tapasā na dānena na cejyayā,
śakya evaṁ-vidho draṣṭuṁ dṛṣṭavān asi māṁ yathā.

Not by the Vedas, nor by austerity, nor by charity, nor by sacrifice can I be seen in the way you have seen me.

भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन।
ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परंतप॥

bhaktyā tv ananyayā śakya aham evaṁ-vidho ‘rjuna,
jñātuṁ draṣṭuṁ ca tattvena praveṣṭuṁ ca paraṁtapa.

But through undivided devotion alone, O Arjuna, can I be known and seen in this way as I truly am, and entered into.

Live it todayUndivided love opens doors that effort alone cannot.

मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः।
निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु यः स मामेति पाण्डव॥

mat-karma-kṛn mat-paramo mad-bhaktaḥ saṅga-varjitaḥ,
nirvairaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ sa mām eti pāṇḍava.

One who does my work, who holds me as the highest, who is devoted to me, free from attachment and without enmity toward any being, comes to me, O son of Pandu.

Live it todayWork for God, love God, and hold no grudge against anyone.