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Chapter 11 · The Universal Form · 55 verses

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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 ›

Krishna’s natureChapter 11 · The Universal Form

11.32 11.34

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 11.33

Become an instrument

Karma · Action

तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व

जित्वा शत्रून्भुंक्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् ।

मयैवैते निहता: पूर्वमेव

निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥ ३३ ॥

tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva

jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham

mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva

nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sācin

Translation

Therefore get up. Prepare to fight and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasācī, can be but an instrument in the fight.

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

Be the Lord’s Instrument

1
Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna to rise and fight as His instrument: the enemies are already killed by His arrangement.
2
Prabhupāda explains that the world follows the Lord’s plan, giving conditioned souls a chance to return to Godhead.
3
Cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devote your life to serving the Lord; this is perfection.

Key points from the purport

“I have already destroyed all your enemies — become My instrument and win glory”

‘’Savya-saci’’ — Means one who fights ambidextrously (i.e with the left or right hand)

Or one who can shoot arrows very expertly

‘’Nimitta-matram’’ — Become an instrument

Sign of intelligence — To recognise that the whole world is moving under the plan of the Lord

Fools mentality – No plan behind the creation ; All are accidental formations

Scientists say – “Perhaps” or “Maybe” –but all are foolish ideas

Lord’s plan — Very specific in material world

Purpose of comic manifestation – chance to go back to Godhead

Till we have the mentality to lord over, we are conditioned

Creation and destruction are under Lord’s law

Sign of most intelligence – Cultivate Krishna consciousness and know the plan of the Lord

Thus Arjuna is motivated to:

Fight in accordance with the desire of the Lord

This is the “Path of real happiness and real perfection”

Connected verses · 1

Texts 11.32 & 11.33

Theme of Texts 11.33 & 11.34 mentions Krishna’s instructions to Arjuna

How it feels

Courage through dependence

“time I Am, Become My Instrument”

Krishna replies, “Time I am, the destroyer of the world. The great warriors on both sides are already slain by My plan. You can be but an instrument. Arise and fight!”

Chapter 11, section III: “time I Am, Become My Instrument”