Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 17

English Translation

I see You as wearing a diadem, wielding a mace, and holding a disc; a mass of brilliance glowing all around, difficult to look at from all sides, possessed of the radiance of the blazing fire and sun, and immeasurable.

Detailed Commentary

।।11.17।। Commentary -- "Kirīṭinaṁ, Gadinaṁ, Chakriṇaṁ cha" -- I see You adorned with a *kirīṭa* (crown), *gadā* (mace), and *chakra* (disc). Here, the word 'cha' (and) should also include the *śaṅkha* (conch) and *padma* (lotus). This implies that Arjuna also perceived the *Chaturbhuja* (four-armed) form of Bhagavan Vishnu within the *Viśvarūpa*. "Tejorāśim" -- You are a *tejorāśi*, a mass of effulgence, as if a collection of brilliance has gathered. Sanjaya previously described this, stating that even if thousands of suns were to rise simultaneously in the sky, they would not equal the brilliance of the Lord (11.12). Thus, You are the very embodiment of light. "Sarvato Dīptimantam" -- Being the embodiment of light Yourself, You radiate light in all directions. "Paśyāmi Tvaṁ Durnirīkṣyaṁ Samantād Dīptānalārkadyutimaprameyam" -- Your splendor is like that of blazing fire and the sun. Just as one's eyes are dazzled by the intense light of the sun, so too are one's eyes dazzled upon seeing You. Hence, You are difficult to behold; one cannot see You clearly. [Here lies a great wonder: Bhagavan had granted *divya dṛṣṭi* (divine vision) to Arjuna, yet even with that divine vision, Arjuna is unable to fully behold the *Viśvarūpa*! Such is the intensely radiant form of Bhagavan!] You are *aprameya* (immeasurable/boundless) from all sides, meaning You are not an object of measurement. No *pramāṇa* (means of valid knowledge) such as *pratyakṣa* (perception), *anumāna* (inference), *upamāna* (comparison), *śabda* (testimony), *arthāpatti* (postulation), *anupalabdhi* (non-apprehension), etc., is capable of knowing You; for the very power within these *pramāṇas* is Yours. Sambandha (Connection) -- Now, in the following verse, Arjuna praises Bhagavan, perceiving Him in His *Nirguṇa Nirākāra* (attributeless formless), *Saguṇa Nirākāra* (with-attributes formless), and *Saguṇa Sākāra* (with-attributes with-form) aspects.