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Chapter 11 · The Universal Form · 55 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Questions & crisisChapter 11 · The Universal Form
10.4211.2

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 11.1

Arjuna requests the universal form

Jīva · The soul

अर्जुन उवाच

मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम् ।

यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम ॥ १ ॥

arjuna uvāca

mad-anugrahāya paramaṁ

guhyam adhyātma-saṁjñitam

yat tvayoktaṁ vacas tena

moho ’yaṁ vigato mama

Translation

Arjuna said: By my hearing the instructions You have kindly given me about these most confidential spiritual subjects, my illusion has now been dispelled.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Hearing Removes Arjuna’s Illusion

  1. 1

    Arjuna says that hearing Kṛṣṇa’s kind instructions on confidential spiritual subjects has removed his illusion.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna now understands Kṛṣṇa as the source of everything, not merely a human friend.

  3. 3

    Hear Kṛṣṇa’s instructions to understand Him more clearly, recognizing His kindness and grace.

Key points from the purport

Arjuna acknowledges Krishna’s grace — By hearing everything that Krishna has said, Arjuna’s illusion has been removed

a

Effect of hearing ‘’most confidential knowledge’’ — all illusion is dispelled

Power of Krishna’s grace – Arjuna recognizes Krishna’s grace by which the illusion is dispelled

What illusion is dispelled – ‘’that Krishna is an ordinary friend or a human being’’

One should know that Krishna is the source of everything and in everyone’s heart as Supersoul

Krishna’s supremacy over all – Chapter 11 reveals Krishna as the cause of all causes: cause of material nature, cause of all living entities, all demigods, even cause of Maha-Vishnu and all incarnations

b

Why Arjuna requests Krishna to show His Universal Form (Refer to Text 11.3 ‘Focus of Learning’)

Further reading

Arjuna’s Request And Krishna’s Description Of

His universal form

Arjuna requests Krishna to show him the all-pervading, universal form

Krishna first describes His universal form and then bestows upon Arjuna the vision necessary to see it

Chapter 11, section I: Arjuna’s Request And Krishna’s Description Of
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arjunaḥ uvācaArjuna said
  2. mat-anugrahāyajust to show me favor
  3. paramamsupreme
  4. guhyamconfidential subject
  5. adhyātmaspiritual
  6. saṁjñitamin the matter of
  7. yatwhat
  8. tvayāby You
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 11.1 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 11.2Arjuna requests the universal formBG 11.3Arjuna requests the universal formBG 1.28Compassion entangled with attachmentBG 1.46The bow falls
Live this todayArjuna Asks About the LordA practice from BG 11.31, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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