The Form of Everything

मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम् ।
यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम ॥1॥

Arjuna said: Out of kindness to me you have spoken the deepest secret, the one that concerns the self, and with it this confusion of mine has gone.

भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया ।
त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ॥2॥

I have heard from you at length how beings come to be and pass away, lotus-eyed one, and of your greatness, which does not fade.

एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर ।
द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ॥3॥

You are exactly as you describe yourself, highest lord. I want to see your form as ruler of all, Purushottama.

मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो ।
योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ॥4॥

If you think I am able to see it, lord of yoga, then show me your unfading self.

पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ।
नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च ॥5॥

The Lord said: See my forms, Partha, by the hundred and by the thousand, of many kinds, divine, of many colours and shapes.

पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा ।
बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत ॥6॥

See the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvins and the Maruts. See many wonders never seen before, Bharata.

इहैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं पश्याद्य सचराचरम् ।
मम देहे गुडाकेश यच्चान्यद् द्रष्टुमिच्छसि ॥7॥

See today, here in my body, the whole world gathered in one place, with all that moves and does not move, Gudakesha, and whatever else you wish to see.

न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा ।
दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ॥8॥

But you cannot see me with these eyes of yours. I give you a divine eye; behold my power as lord.

एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः ।
दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम् ॥9॥

Sanjaya said: Having said this, O king, Hari, the great lord of yoga, showed Arjuna his highest form as ruler of all.

अनेकवक्त्रनयनमनेकाद्भुतदर्शनम् ।
अनेकदिव्याभरणं दिव्यानेकोद्यतायुधम् ॥10॥

With many mouths and eyes, showing many marvels, with many divine ornaments and many divine weapons raised,

दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् ।
सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवमनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम् ॥11॥

wearing divine garlands and robes, anointed with divine fragrance, made of every wonder, endless, his faces turned every way.

दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता ।
यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥12॥

If the light of a thousand suns were to rise in the sky at once, that might be something like the brightness of that great one.

तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा ।
अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा ॥13॥

There, in the body of the god of gods, the Pandava saw the whole world gathered in one place, divided into many parts.

ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः ।
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ॥14॥

Then Dhananjaya, filled with wonder, his hair standing on end, bowed his head to the god and spoke with folded hands.

पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे
सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान् ।
ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थमृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान् ॥15॥

I see all the gods in your body, O god, and every kind of being: Brahma the lord on his lotus seat, all the seers, and the divine serpents.

अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं
पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम् ।
नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं
पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप ॥16॥

I see you on every side, with many arms and bellies, mouths and eyes, endless in form. I see no end in you, no middle, no beginning, lord of all, form of all.

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च
तेजोराशिं सर्वतो दीप्तिमन्तम् ।
पश्यामि त्वां दुर्निरीक्ष्यं समन्ताद्
दीप्तानलार्कद्युतिमप्रमेयम् ॥17॥

Crowned, bearing mace and discus, a mass of brilliance shining on all sides, hard to look at, blazing like fire and sun, beyond measure: so I see you.

त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं
त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् ।
त्वमव्ययः शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता
सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे ॥18॥

You are the highest imperishable, the one to be known; you are the final resting place of all this. You are unfading, the guardian of the eternal way. To my mind you are the everlasting spirit.

अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्यमनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम् ।
पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रं
स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् ॥19॥

Without beginning, middle or end, of endless power, endless arms, with moon and sun for eyes, your mouth a blazing fire, scorching this world with your own heat: so I see you.

द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि
व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः ।
दृष्ट्वाद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं
लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन् ॥20॥

The space between heaven and earth and all the directions are filled by you alone. Seeing this wondrous and terrible form of yours, the three worlds tremble, great one.

अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति
केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति ।
स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः
स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ॥21॥

These hosts of gods are entering into you; some, afraid, praise you with folded hands. Crowds of great seers and perfected ones cry "May all be well" and praise you with full-throated hymns.

रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या
विश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च ।
गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घा
वीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे ॥22॥

The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, the All-gods, the Ashvins, the Maruts, the ancestors who drink steam, the hosts of gandharvas, yakshas, asuras and perfected ones: all of them look at you in amazement.

रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं
महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम् ।
बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालं
दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाहम् ॥23॥

Seeing this great form of yours with its many mouths and eyes, mighty-armed one, its many arms and thighs and feet, its many bellies, its many terrible teeth, the worlds are shaken, and so am I.

नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं
व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् ।
दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा
धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो ॥24॥

Touching the sky, blazing, of many colours, mouths open, huge eyes aflame: seeing you so, Vishnu, I am shaken within and can find neither courage nor calm.

दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि
दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि ।
दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म
प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥25॥

Seeing your mouths, dreadful with their teeth and like the fire at the end of time, I cannot tell one direction from another and find no ease. Be gracious, lord of gods, dwelling of the world.

अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः
सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः ।
भीष्मो द्रोणः सूतपुत्रस्तथासौ
सहास्मदीयैरपि योधमुख्यैः ॥26॥

And all these sons of Dhritarashtra, along with the hosts of kings, Bhishma, Drona, and that son of a charioteer, and our own chief warriors too,

वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति
दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि ।
केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु
सन्दृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः ॥27॥

are rushing into your mouths, dreadful with their teeth. Some are seen caught between your teeth, their heads crushed.

यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः
समुद्रमेवाभिमुखा द्रवन्ति ।
तथा तवामी नरलोकवीरा
विशन्ति वक्त्राण्यभिविज्वलन्ति ॥28॥

As the many currents of rivers race towards the sea, so these heroes of the human world pass into your flaming mouths.

यथा प्रदीप्तं ज्वलनं पतङ्गा
विशन्ति नाशाय समृद्धवेगाः ।
तथैव नाशाय विशन्ति लोकास्तवापि वक्त्राणि समृद्धवेगाः ॥29॥

As moths rush headlong into a blazing fire and perish, so these worlds rush headlong into your mouths and perish.

लेलिह्यसे ग्रसमानः समन्ताल्लोकान्समग्रान्वदनैर्ज्वलद्भिः ।
तेजोभिरापूर्य जगत्समग्रं
भासस्तवोग्राः प्रतपन्ति विष्णो ॥30॥

You lick up all the worlds on every side with your flaming mouths, devouring them. Your fierce rays fill the whole world with light and scorch it, Vishnu.

आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो
नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद ।
विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं
न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम् ॥31॥

Tell me who you are, in this terrible form. Homage to you, best of gods; be gracious. I want to know you, who are the first of all, for I cannot make out what you are doing.

कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो
लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः ।
ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे
येऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः ॥32॥

The Lord said: I am time, grown full, out to destroy the worlds, and here I am at work gathering them in. Even without you, none of these warriors drawn up in the opposing ranks will remain.

तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् ।
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव
निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥33॥

So stand up and win renown. Defeat your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. These men have already been killed by me. Be the instrument, nothing more, Savyasachin.

द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च
कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् ।
मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा
युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ॥34॥

Drona and Bhishma, Jayadratha and Karna, and the other warrior heroes too, have been killed by me. Strike them down and do not be troubled. Fight; you will beat your rivals in the field.

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं केशवस्य
कृताञ्जलिर्वेपमानः किरीटी ।
नमस्कृत्वा भूय एवाह कृष्णं
सगद्गदं भीतभीतः प्रणम्य ॥35॥

Sanjaya said: Hearing these words of Keshava, the crowned one folded his hands, trembling, bowed, and in a voice choked with fear spoke to Krishna again.

स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या
जगत्प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च ।
रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्ति
सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः ॥36॥

It is right, Hrishikesha, that the world rejoices at your fame and is drawn to you. The rakshasas flee in fear to every direction, and all the hosts of the perfected bow to you.

कस्माच्च ते न नमेरन्महात्मन्
गरीयसे ब्रह्मणोऽप्यादिकर्त्रे ।
अनन्त देवेश जगन्निवास
त्वमक्षरं सदसत्तत्परं यत् ॥37॥

And why should they not bow to you, great one, who are greater even than Brahma, the first maker? Endless one, lord of gods, dwelling of the world, you are the imperishable, that which lies beyond both being and non-being.

त्वमादिदेवः पुरुषः पुराणस्त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् ।
वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम
त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप ॥38॥

You are the first god, the ancient spirit, the final resting place of all this. You are the knower and what is to be known, and the highest abode. By you this world is filled, endless in form.

वायुर्यमोऽग्निर्वरुणः शशाङ्कः
प्रजापतिस्त्वं प्रपितामहश्च ।
नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्रकृत्वः
पुनश्च भूयोऽपि नमो नमस्ते ॥39॥

You are wind and death, fire and the waters, the moon, the lord of creatures, and the great-grandfather too. Homage to you a thousand times, and homage again and again.

नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते
नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व ।
अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं
सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ॥40॥

Homage to you from in front and from behind, homage to you from every side, you who are all. Of endless power and measureless might, you reach into everything, and so you are everything.

सखेति मत्वा प्रसभं यदुक्तं
हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखेति ।
अजानता महिमानं तवेदं
मया प्रमादात्प्रणयेन वापि ॥41॥

Not knowing this greatness of yours, taking you for a friend, I said carelessly, or out of affection, "Krishna!", "Yadava!", "my friend!",

यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि
विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु ।
एकोऽथवाप्यच्युत तत्समक्षं
तत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम् ॥42॥

and whatever disrespect I showed you in jest, at play, resting, sitting or eating, alone or before others: for all that I ask your pardon, immeasurable one.

पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य
त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान् ।
न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो
लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव ॥43॥

You are the father of this world, of all that moves and does not move; you are its object of worship, its weightiest teacher. In the three worlds there is no one equal to you, so how could there be one greater, you of unmatched power?

तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं
प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम् ।
पितेव पुत्रस्य सखेव सख्युः
प्रियः प्रियायार्हसि देव सोढुम् ॥44॥

So I bow down, laying my body before you, and ask you, praiseworthy lord, to be pleased with me. As a father bears with a son, a friend with a friend, a lover with the beloved, bear with me, O god.

अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा
भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे ।
तदेव मे दर्शय देव रूपं
प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥45॥

I am glad to have seen what was never seen before, and my mind is shaken with fear. Show me that other form of yours, O god; be gracious, lord of gods, dwelling of the world.

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्तम्
इच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव ।
तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेन
सहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते ॥46॥

I want to see you as before, crowned, with mace and discus in hand. Take on that four-armed form again, thousand-armed one, form of all.

मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं
रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात् ।
तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं
यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम् ॥47॥

The Lord said: Pleased with you, Arjuna, I showed you by my own power this highest form, made of light, all-encompassing, endless and first of all, which no one but you has ever seen.

न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानैर्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः ।
एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके
द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर ॥48॥

Not by study of the Vedas or by offerings, not by gifts, not by rites, not by harsh austerities can I be seen in this form in the human world by anyone but you, brave one among the Kurus.

मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो
दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम् ।
व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं
तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य ॥49॥

Do not be troubled, do not be bewildered at seeing this terrible form of mine. Free of fear, with a glad heart, look again at that other form of mine.

इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा
स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः ।
आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनं
भूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा ॥50॥

Sanjaya said: Having spoken so to Arjuna, Vasudeva showed his own form again, and taking on a gentle shape, that great one reassured the frightened man.

दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तव सौम्यं जनार्दन ।
इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः ॥51॥

Arjuna said: Seeing this gentle human form of yours, Janardana, I have come to myself again and am back in my own nature.

सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम ।
देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥52॥

The Lord said: This form of mine that you have seen is very hard to see. Even the gods long constantly for a sight of it.

नाहं वेदैर्न तपसा न दानेन न चेज्यया ।
शक्य एवंविधो द्रष्टुं दृष्टवानसि मां यथा ॥53॥

Not by the Vedas, not by austerity, not by giving, not by offering can I be seen in the way you have seen me.

भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन ।
ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप ॥54॥

But by devotion to me alone, Arjuna, can I be known in this form, and truly seen, and entered into, scorcher of foes.

मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्तः सङ्गवर्जितः ।
निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु यः स मामेति पाण्डव ॥55॥

One who works for me, who holds me as the highest, who is devoted to me, free of attachment, and without enmity towards any being: that one comes to me, Pandava.