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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 ›
Bhakti & surrenderChapter 11 · The Universal Form
11.3711.39

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 11.38

Arjuna seeks forgiveness and familiar refuge

Īśvara · God

त्वमादिदेव: पुरुष: पुराण-

स्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् ।

वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम

त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप ॥ ३८ ॥

tvam ādi-devaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇas

tvam asya viśvasya paraṁ nidhānam

vettāsi vedyaṁ ca paraṁ ca dhāma

tvayā tataṁ viśvam ananta-rūpa

Translation

You are the original Personality of Godhead, the oldest, the ultimate sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world. You are the knower of everything, and You are all that is knowable. You are the supreme refuge, above the material modes. O limitless form! This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by You!

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

Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Refuge

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead, knows everything, and pervades the whole universe.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that everything, even the Brahman effulgence, rests on Kṛṣṇa. He is the goal of all knowledge.

  3. 3

    Seek shelter in Kṛṣṇa, the supreme refuge beyond the material modes.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 11.35–46

Arjuna prays in faltering voice

In which mood – as a devotee in the mood of ‘wonder’ (11.35)

Arjuna’s prayers

a

Arjuna recognizes Krishna’s action as All-good for everyone after hearing from Krishna the outcome of battlefield and observing Universal form and response of demigods and demons (11.36)

The world becomes joyful on hearing Your name and everyone becomes attached to You

You are worshiped by great souls and demons are afraid and flee away

b

Krishna is worshipable by everyone — “You rightly deserve the obeisances of everyone” (11.37) because:

You are the God of all the Gods, the original creator, especially even greater than Brahma, secondary creator

Invincible source of all and cause of all causes

Transcendental to material manifestations

‘Aksaram’ – not perishable like material creation)

‘Mahatma’ – Most magnanimous and unlimited

‘Ananta’ – Nothing is not covered by Lord’s influence and energy

‘Devesa’ – He is the controller of demigods and is above them all

c

You are the ultimate rest of everything and all knowledge (11.38)

‘Nidhanam’ – Ultimate rest even from Brahman.

Knower of everything in this world and You are all that is knowable

Object of all knowledge because You are All pervading

d

You are the essence of everything (11.39)

You are air (Air being all-pervasive is the most important representation of the demigods)

You are fire, water, moon

You are Brahma (Pitamaha) / You are Prapitamaha (because He is the father of Brahmaji)

You are the Supreme controller

e

I offer you obeisances from front, behind and from all sides (11.40)

Arjuna is offering obeisances out of loving ecstasy, accepting that ‘’He is the master of limitless power’’ and ‘’He is far superior to all the great warriors assembled on the battlefield’’ (Ref. Visnu Purana – All have been created by you, any demigod or anyone) ARJUNA’S PRAYERS continued…

f

Begs forgiveness for treating Krishna, the Infallible One, as an ordinary friend (11.41* – 11.42*)

Not knowing Krishna’s glories, Arjuna feels that he has offended Krishna in ‘madness’ or in ‘love’, and begs to be excused for many informal gestures like,

Called Krishna as Yadava or Krishna or dishonoured him many times.

Jesting as we relaxed

Lay on the same bed / sat / ate together

Never knew Krishna could accept such a Universal form

Cannot forget the relationship of a friend – The relationship between a living-entity and Krishna is fixed eternally, it cannot be forgotten, as evident from Arjuna’s behaviour

g

You are the supreme father (11.43)

Supreme spiritual master – Gave this knowledge to Brahma / Arjuna

You are the greatest – No-one is greater than or equal to You nor can anyone be one with You. References for Lord’s Supreme greatness:

No difference between Kr

Further reading

Arjuna’s Prayers

Arjuna, trembling, prays to Krishna’s Universal form

Begs His forgiveness for having previously, in ignorance, treated the Lord as friend

Fearfully requests Him to regain His two-armed form as Supreme Personality of Godhead

Chapter 11, section IV: Arjuna’s Prayers
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvamYou
  2. ādi-devaḥthe original Supreme God
  3. puruṣaḥpersonality
  4. purāṇaḥold
  5. tvamYou
  6. asyaof this
  7. viśvasyauniverse
  8. paramtranscendental
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 11.38 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 11.35Arjuna seeks forgiveness and familiar refugeBG 11.36Arjuna seeks forgiveness and familiar refugeBG 3.30Offer every action to KrishnaBG 6.47The highest yogi is devoted
Live this todayBecome an Instrument of KṛṣṇaA practice from BG 11.33, 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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