Visvarupa Darsana Yoga

Arjuna said: For my favor, the supreme secret, called the supreme Self (adhyātma), Which word was spoken by You, by that this delusion of mine is gone.

For the origin and dissolution of beings, have been heard in detail by me, From You, O Lotus-eyed one (Kamalapatrākṣa), and also Your imperishable majesty.

Thus it is as You have declared Yourself, O Supreme Lord (Parameśvara). I desire to see Your lordly form, O Supreme Person (Puruṣottama).

If You think that it is possible by me to be seen, O Lord (Prabhu), O Lord of discipline (Yogeśvara), then to me show Your imperishable self (ātman).

The Blessed Lord (Śrī Bhagavān) said: Behold My forms, O son of Pritha (Pārtha), by the hundreds and by the thousands, Of various kinds, divine, and of various colors and shapes.

Behold the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvins, and the Maruts. Behold many marvels never seen before, O descendant of Bharata (Bhārata).

Here standing in one place, the entire world, moving and unmoving, behold today, In My body, O Thick-haired one (Guḍākeśa), and whatever else you desire to see.

But you are not able to see Me with this very eye of yours. A divine eye I give to you; behold My lordly discipline (yogamaiśvaram)!

Sañjaya said: Having spoken thus, then, O King, the great Lord of discipline (Mahāyogeśvara), Hari, Showed to the son of Pritha (Pārtha) the supreme lordly form.

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

Wearing divine garlands and garments, anointed with divine perfumes, Full of all marvels, the God (Deva), infinite, facing in all directions.

If the brilliance of a thousand suns were to arise at once in the sky, If that splendor were similar, to the splendor of that great soul (mahātman).

There standing in one place, the entire world, divided in many ways, The son of Pandu (Pāṇḍava) saw then, in the body of the God of gods (Devadeva).

Then he, filled with amazement, his hair standing on end, the Winner of wealth (Dhanañjaya), Having bowed his head to the God (Deva), with joined hands, spoke.

Arjuna said: I see the gods in Your body, O God (Deva), and all the multitudes of specific beings, Brahma the Lord (Īśa) sitting on the lotus seat, and all the seers (ṛṣīn) and divine serpents.

With many arms, bellies, mouths, and eyes, I see You, of infinite form on all sides. Neither the end, nor the middle, nor again Your beginning do I see, O Lord of the universe (Viśveśvara), O Universal form (Viśvarūpa)!

Bearing a diadem, a mace, and a discus, a mass of splendor shining on all sides, I see You, difficult to look at, all around, immeasurable, with the brilliance of blazing fire and the sun.

You are the imperishable (akṣara), the supreme to be known, You are the supreme resting place of this universe. You are the imperishable protector of the eternal duty (śāśvatadharma); You are the everlasting Person (puruṣa), so I believe.

Without beginning, middle, or end, of infinite power, of infinite arms, with the moon and sun as eyes, I see You, with a face like blazing fire, burning this universe with Your own brilliance (tejas).

For this space between heaven and earth, and all directions, are pervaded by You alone. Having seen this wondrous and terrible form of Yours, the three worlds are trembling, O Great soul (Mahātman)!

For yonder multitudes of gods are entering You; some, frightened, praise You with joined hands. Saying "May it be well!" the multitudes of great seers and perfected ones praise You with abundant hymns.

The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, and those who are the Sadhyas, the Vishvedevas, the Ashvins, the Maruts, and the Ushmapas, The multitudes of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, and Siddhas, all gaze at You, amazed.

Having seen Your great form with many mouths and eyes, O Great-armed one (Mahābāho), with many arms, thighs, and feet, With many bellies, and terrible with many tusks, the worlds are trembling, and so am I.

For having seen You touching the sky, blazing, many-colored, with mouths wide open, with large blazing eyes, My inner self (antarātman) is trembling, and I find no resolve (dhṛti) nor peace (śama), O Vishnu!

And having seen Your mouths terrible with tusks, like the fire of time (kālānala) at the end of the world, I do not know the directions, and I find no refuge. Be gracious, O Lord of gods (Deveśa), O Abode of the universe (Jagannivāsa)!

And yonder sons of Dhritarashtra, all of them, together with multitudes of kings of the earth, Bhishma, Drona, and that charioteer's son (Karna), together with our chief warriors as well,

Are rushing into Your mouths, which are terrible and frightening with tusks. Some, stuck between the teeth, are seen with their heads crushed to powder.

As the many torrents of rivers, flow facing towards the ocean alone, So yonder heroes of the human world, enter Your fiercely blazing mouths.

As moths with accelerated speed, enter a blazing fire to their destruction, Just so, to their destruction, the worlds also enter Your mouths with accelerated speed.

You lick Your lips, devouring on all sides all the worlds with Your flaming mouths. Having filled the entire universe with brilliance (tejas), Your fierce rays are burning, O Vishnu!

Tell me who You are, of terrible form! Homage be to You, O best of gods (Devavara), be gracious! I desire to know You, the primal one, for I do not understand Your manifestation.

The Blessed Lord (Śrī Bhagavān) said: I am Time (kāla), the cause of the destruction of the worlds, grown mature, engaged here in destroying the worlds. Even without you, they shall not exist, all the warriors who are stationed in the opposing armies.

Therefore stand up, obtain fame! Having conquered the enemies, enjoy a prosperous kingdom. By Me alone they have been killed already; be merely the instrument, O Left-handed archer (Savyasācin)!

Drona and Bhishma and Jayadratha, and Karna, and also other hero-warriors, Killed by Me, do you kill! Do not be distressed. Fight! You will conquer the rivals in battle.

Sañjaya said: Having heard this word of the Beautiful-haired one (Keśava), with joined hands, trembling, the Diademed one (Kirīṭī), Having bowed down, spoke again to the Dark one (Kṛṣṇa), stammering, terrified, bowing down.

Arjuna said: Rightly, O Lord of the senses (Hṛṣīkeśa), by Your praise, the universe rejoices and is filled with love. The terrifying demons (rakṣāṃsi) flee in all directions, and all the multitudes of perfected ones bow down.

And why should they not bow to You, O Great soul (Mahātman), who are greater even than Brahma, the original creator? O Infinite one, Lord of gods (Deveśa), Abode of the universe (Jagannivāsa), You are the imperishable (akṣara), being (sat), non-being (asat), and that which is beyond.

You are the primal God (Deva), the ancient Person (puruṣa); You are the supreme resting place of this universe. You are the knower, the object of knowledge, and the supreme abode; by You the universe is pervaded, O You of infinite form (Anantarūpa)!

You are the wind (Vayu), the controller (Yama), fire (Agni), the god of waters (Varuna), the moon (Shashanka), the Lord of creatures (Prajapati), and the great-grandfather. Homage, homage be to You a thousand times, and again and yet again, homage, homage to You!

Homage from in front and then from behind You! Homage be to You from all sides indeed, O All (Sarva)! O You of infinite power and immeasurable valor, You pervade all, therefore You are All.

Thinking of You as a friend, whatever was forcefully said, "O Krishna, O Yadava, O Friend!" Not knowing this majesty of Yours, by me, out of negligence or even out of affection,

And whatever disrespect was shown to You for the purpose of a joke, while playing, resting, sitting, or at meals, Either alone, O Infallible one (Acyuta), or even in the presence of others, for that I ask forgiveness from You, the immeasurable one.

You are the father of the world, of the moving and the unmoving; You are its object of worship and the greatest venerable teacher (guru). There is no one equal to You, how could there be another superior, even in the three worlds, O You of incomparable power?

Therefore, having bowed down, prostrating my body, I seek grace from You, the adorable Lord (Īśa). Like a father to a son, like a friend to a friend, like a lover to a beloved, You ought to bear with me, O God (Deva).

Having seen what was never seen before, I am thrilled, and my mind is trembling with fear. Show me that very form, O God (Deva); be gracious, O Lord of gods (Deveśa), O Abode of the universe (Jagannivāsa)!

Wearing a diadem, with a mace, and a discus in hand, I desire to see You just as before. With that very four-armed form, appear, O Thousand-armed one (Sahasrabāho), O Universal form (Viśvamūrte)!

The Blessed Lord (Śrī Bhagavān) said: By Me, being pleased, to you, O Arjuna, this supreme form was shown through My own discipline (yoga). Made of brilliance, universal, infinite, primal, which has not been seen before by anyone other than you.

Not by the Vedas, nor by sacrifices, nor by study, nor by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by severe austerities, In such a form can I be seen in the world of men by anyone other than you, O great hero of the Kurus (Kurupravīra).

Let there be no fear for you, and no bewildered state, having seen such a terrible form of Mine. With fear gone, and with a gladdened heart, again you behold this very form of Mine.

Sañjaya said: Vasudeva, having thus spoken to Arjuna, showed his own form again. And the Great soul (Mahātmā) consoled this terrified one, having become again a gentle form.

Arjuna said: Having seen this gentle human form of Yours, O Agitator of men (Janārdana), Now I have become composed in mind, and restored to my normal nature (prakṛti).

The Blessed Lord (Śrī Bhagavān) said: Very difficult to see is this form, which you have seen of Mine. Even the gods are constantly desirous of the sight of this form.

Not by the Vedas, not by austerity (tapas), not by charity (dāna), not by sacrifice (ijyā), Can I be seen in such a way, as you have seen Me.

But by unswerving devotion (bhakti), I can be known in this way, O Arjuna, And seen in truth (tattvena), and entered into, O Scorcher of foes (Parantapa).

He who performs My work, who holds Me supreme, My devotee (bhakta), freed from attachment, Free from enmity toward all beings, he comes to Me, O son of Pandu (Pāṇḍava).