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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 11.12
दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता ।
यदि भा: सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मन: ॥ १२ ॥
divi sūrya-sahasrasya
bhaved yugapad utthitā
yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syād
bhāsas tasya mahātmanaḥ
If hundreds of thousands of suns were to rise at once into the sky, their radiance might resemble the effulgence of the Supreme Person in that universal form.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
The light of hundreds of thousands of suns rising together might resemble the Supreme Person’s universal form.
Prabhupāda explains that Sañjaya uses this comparison to help Dhṛtarāṣṭra picture Arjuna’s indescribable vision.
Though Sañjaya was not present, he could see what happened by the grace of Vyāsa.
These notes cover verses 11.9–14
Sanjaya is empowered to describe Arjuna’s vision (11.9) as follows
10* — 11.11*)
Unlimited mouths, eyes, ornaments, weapons, garlands etc
By inconceivable potency of the Lord, Arjuna could see the unlimited sitting in one place
More radiant than hundreds and thousands of suns (11.12)
Sanjaya is trying to give a mental picture of indescribable revelation to Dhrtarashtra
Grace of Vyasadeva – Sanjaya, by grace of Vyasa, could see all that happened in Kurukshetra
Seeing everything at one place – All unlimited expansions of the universe including planets of gold, jewels and all other kinds (11.13)
The word ‘tatra’ (There) – indicates Arjuna and Krishna were sitting on the chariot and seeing everything from one place.
Others on the battlefield could not see – Because Krishna gave the vision only to Arjuna
Arjuna is bewildered and astonished – Hair standing on end, Arjuna bows down and begins to pray with folded hands (11.14)
Text 11.14 describes the change of rasa from ‘friendship’ to ‘wonder’
This proves that Krishna is the reservoir of all relationships (12 rasas)
Symptoms of wonder – indicated by a calm, sober and quiet personality being changed to ecstatic, astonished personality with hairs standing on end and offering prayers with folded hands
Arjuna beholds Krishna’s universal form with astonishment
He hesitatingly begins to describe what he sees.
First he sees all existence, immeasurable, with great radiance, in one place within this form
Second he also sees Krishna’s frightening, all destructive kala-rupa or ‘form of time’
Arjuna then asks this form, “What is Your mission? Who are You?”
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 11.12 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?
Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.