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Chapter 11 · Verse 31 · Vishwaroopa Darshana Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 11.31

surrendering Jnana & Wisdom Bhakti & Devotion Self & Identity

Sanskrit

आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद। विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम्।।11.31।।

Transliteration

ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo namo ’stu te deva-vara prasīda vijñātum ichchhāmi bhavantam ādyaṁ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛittim

Word by Word

ākhyāhi tell
me me
kaḥ who
bhavān you
ugra-rūpaḥ fierce form
namaḥ astu I bow
te to you
deva-vara God of gods
prasīda be merciful
vijñātum to know
ichchhāmi I wish
bhavantam you
ādyam the primeval
na not
hi because
prajānāmi comprehend
tava your
pravṛittim workings
Simplified Perspective

Arjuna stands at the threshold between knowledge and mystery, having glimpsed the cosmic form, and now asks Krishna to reveal the nature of this terrible, awesome manifestation. ' When we encounter the infinite within ourselves—through meditation, grace, or crisis—we too must bow and ask for mercy, recognizing that comprehension of the divine requires not just intellect but surrender and divine compassion.

In our modern lives, this means acknowledging the limits of our understanding when facing life's overwhelming mysteries, and turning inward with genuine humility rather than grasping.

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Bhagavad Gita 11.31 — BG 11.31

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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