Awe and terror at the universal form

Blazing fire coming forth from your mouth, burning this entire universe (11.19)

Numberless arms and sun and moon are the eyes

Without origin, middle and end

Repetition of glories is not a flaw – It is a sign of bewilderment, wonder or great ecstasy

Spread throughout – Spread throughout the sky and planets and all space in between; and all the planetary systems are perturbed seeing you (11.20)

‘Dyav-a-prthivyoh’ (Space between heaven and earth) and ‘Loka-trayam’ (Three worlds) – indicate that not only Arjuna saw, but other planetary systems, whoever endowed with divine vision, also saw this form and got perturbed

This proves that Arjuna’s seeing was not a dream

Petitioned by demigods – Kala-rupa is petitioned by demigods and sages – All are fearful (11.21 – 11.22)

Demigods are surrendering and praying with folded hands

Great sages are praying with Vedic hymns

Siva, Adityas, Vasus etc beholding You in wonder

Rasa changes to fear – Arjuna experiences a terrible fearsome sight (11.23)

Arjuna loses steadiness and equilibrium of mind, because mind is perturbed by fear (11.24)

Arjuna sees blazing death-like faces and awful teeth (11.25)

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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?”