Chapter 11विश्वरूपदर्शनयोगःVishvarupa Darshana Yoga

The prayer for vision (11.1–11.8). Arjuna: "Through your words my delusion is gone" (11.1); I have heard of creation and dissolution and of your greatness (11.2); "It is just so — yet I wish to see your divine form" (11.3); "If you think it fitting, show it to me" (11.4). Krishna: "Behold my hundreds and thousands of divine forms" (11.5–11.6); "the whole universe in one place in my body" (11.7); "not with this eye — I give you divine sight" (11.8).

Sanjaya's description (11.9–11.14). Hari, the great Lord of yoga, revealed the supreme form (11.9); many mouths and eyes, ornaments, weapons (11.10–11.11); a light like a thousand suns (11.12); the whole universe, divided in many ways, in one body (11.13); Arjuna, his hair standing on end, bows down (11.14).

Arjuna's hymn — from wonder to fear (11.15–11.31). The gods, Brahma, the sages, the serpents (11.15); no beginning, no middle, no end (11.16); crown, mace and discus, a mass of radiance (11.17); "You are the imperishable, the refuge of the universe, the guardian of dharma" (11.18); the moon and sun as eyes, a mouth of fire (11.19); the three worlds tremble (11.20); gods, sages, asuras — all are amazed (11.21–11.22); "I too am afraid — I find neither courage nor peace" (11.23–11.25); warriors entering the mouths — the images of rivers and moths (11.26–11.30); "Who are you?" (11.31).

Time's answer (11.32–11.34). "I am Time, the destroyer of worlds; even without you, these will not survive" (11.32); "Arise; be merely the instrument" (11.33); "Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna — do not be distressed" (11.34).

Asking forgiveness (11.35–11.46). Sanjaya: Arjuna spoke, trembling (11.35); "It is fitting that the world sings your praise" (11.36); "You are being and non-being, and beyond them" (11.37–11.38); namo namaḥ — from every direction (11.39–11.40); "Forgive what I said, thinking of you as a friend" (11.41–11.42); "You are father and teacher — as a father forgives a son, a friend a friend, a lover the beloved" (11.43–11.44); "Show me that same four-armed form" (11.45–11.46).

The gentle form and the essence (11.47–11.55). "I showed it out of grace" (11.47); not through Vedas, sacrifice, charity or austerity (11.48); "Do not fear; see that same form" (11.49); the gentle form (11.50); Arjuna "came back to himself" (11.51); even the gods long for it (11.52–11.53); to know, to see and to enter, through undivided devotion (11.54); mat-karma-kṛt … nirvairaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu (11.55).