The Yoga of Universal Form

अर्जुन उवाच। मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम्। यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम॥

Arjuna said: Out of compassion for me, You have revealed the supreme secret concerning the self. By Your words, my delusion is now dispelled.

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

O lotus-eyed one, I have heard from You in detail about the origin and dissolution of beings, as well as Your imperishable glories.

एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर। द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम॥

O Supreme Lord, You are as You have described Yourself. I wish to see Your divine cosmic form, O Supreme Person.

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

If You think I am able to behold it, O Lord, O master of yoga, then reveal to me Your imperishable Self.

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

The Supreme Lord said: Behold, O Arjuna, My divine forms by the hundreds and thousands, various, divine, of many colors and shapes.

पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा। बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत॥

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

इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम्। मम देहे गुडाकेश यच्चान्यद्द्रष्टुमिच्छसि॥

See now the entire universe, with everything moving and non-moving, all at once in My body, O Arjuna, and whatever else you wish to see.

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

But you cannot see Me with these physical eyes. Therefore I give you divine vision. Behold My divine power!

सञ्जय उवाच। एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः। दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम्॥

Sanjaya said: O King, having thus spoken, the great Lord of yoga, Hari, then revealed to Arjuna His supreme, divine form.

अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम्। अनेकदिव्याभरणं दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम्॥

With many mouths and eyes, with many wondrous sights, with many divine ornaments, with many divine weapons raised...

दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्। सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवमनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम्॥

...wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine fragrances, all-wonderful, infinite, with faces everywhere.

दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता। यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः॥

If a thousand suns were to rise together in the sky, such splendor might resemble the radiance of that great being.

तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा। अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा॥

There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna then saw the entire universe divided into many parts yet standing as one.

ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः। प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत॥

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

अर्जुन उवाच। पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान्। ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थमृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान्॥

Arjuna said: O Lord, I see within Your body all the gods and diverse beings, Brahma seated on his lotus throne, all the sages, and divine serpents.