Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 19

English Translation

I see You as without beginning, middle and end, possessed of infinite valour, having innumerable arms, having the sun and the moon as eyes, having a mouth like a blazing fire, and heating up this Universe by Your own brilliance.

Detailed Commentary

'anādimadhyāntam' – You are without beginning, middle, and end; meaning You are limitless. In the sixteenth verse too, Arjuna stated that he does not perceive Your beginning, middle, or end. There, infinity based on space (deśa) was described, and here, infinity based on time (kāla) is described. This implies that You are not limited by 'space' (deśa), 'time' (kāla), or objects (vastu). All space, time, and so forth are contained within You; how then can You be contained within them? This means You cannot be measured on any basis, be it space, time, or anything else. 'anantavīryam' – You possess immeasurable valor, might, strength, and effulgence. You are infinite, limitless, and powerful. 'anantabāhum' – There can be no count of Your arms; You are the one with infinite arms. 'śaśisūryanetraṁ' – The moon and the sun, which illuminate the world, are Your eyes. Therefore, the world receives light from You alone. 'dīptahutāśavaktraṁ' – You are the resplendent, fire-like mouth that accepts whatever is offered into the fire during Yajña, Havan, and similar rituals. 'svatejasā viśvamidaṁ tapantam' – You are the one who scorches this entire universe with Your own effulgence. The implication is that the entire living world is distressed by those very situations or individuals from whom adversity is being received. Both the tormentor and the tormented are parts of the same Virāṭ Rūpa (Cosmic Form).