1 · Learn3 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

700 verses37 detailed

Or browse by chapter

Chapter

Chapter 11 · The Universal Form · 55 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
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

11.2 11.4

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 11.3

Arjuna requests the universal form

Īśvara · God

एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर ।

द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ॥ ३ ॥

evam etad yathāttha tvam

ātmānaṁ parameśvara

draṣṭum icchāmi te rūpam

aiśvaraṁ puruṣottama

Translation

O greatest of all personalities, O supreme form, though I see You here before me in Your actual position, as You have described Yourself, I wish to see how You have entered into this cosmic manifestation. I want to see that form of Yours.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

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

3 study points

Seeing Kṛṣṇa’s Universal Form

1
Arjuna accepts Kṛṣṇa’s supreme position and asks to see how He has entered the universe.
2
Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna is fully satisfied with Kṛṣṇa’s personal form. He requests the universal form to convince others, not himself.
3
Be careful of false claims: anyone claiming to be Kṛṣṇa should be able to show His universal form.

Key points from the purport

Arjuna expresses his desire to see — Arjuna has heard that Krishna, who stands before him on the chariot, supports and pervades the entire universe (Bg. 10.42); and thus Arjuna expresses his desire to see that form

Why Arjuna requests Krishna to show His Universal Form (4 points):

To establish Krishna’s divinity for all (11.1 purport)

To convince others, although he does not have any personal desire and is completely satisfied to see Him in His personal form of Krishna (11.3 purport)

Lord is addressed as Purushottama – Implies that Lord as Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows the heart of Arjuna, that he has no personal desire to see

To avoid imposters — Wants to set a criteria for in the future there will be so many imposters who will pose as incarnations of God (11.3 purport)

Arjuna, as a responsibility, wants to substantiate Krishna’s statement — so that in the future people can understand that Krishna “not only theoretically or philosophically”, but ‘actually’ presented Himself as such to Arjuna – Arjuna fulfils his responsibility because he is the beginning of the Parampara (11.8 purport)