Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 20

English Translation

Indeed, this intermediate space between heaven and earth as also all the directions are pervaded by You alone. O exalted One, the three worlds are struck with fear by seeing this strange, fearful form of Yours.

Detailed Commentary

।।11.20।। Explanation -- 'Mahātman' — This address means that no form like yours has ever existed, does not exist, and will not exist. Therefore, you are one of great form. 'Dyāvā-Pṛthivyoridamantaraṁ Hi Vyāptaṁ Tvayaikena Diśaśca Sarvāḥ' — Whatever space lies between heaven and earth is completely filled by You alone. The east, west, north, south, and all other directions are pervaded by You, meaning that You are present in them as their very essence. 'Dṛṣṭvā Adbhutaṁ Rūpamugraṁ Tavedaṁ Lokatrayaṁ Pravyathitam' — Seeing this wondrous and formidable form of Yours, all three worlds are distressed and terrified. Arjuna stated that 'Lokatrayam' includes Pātāla (the netherworld). Considering that Arjuna's vision was moving through a single location within the Lord's body, he was simultaneously seeing scenes from Pātāla, Mṛtyuloka (the mortal world), and Svarga (heaven). In this way, all scenes were unfolding sequentially before his inner vision. If the three worlds are distressed upon seeing the Virāṭ Rūpa (Cosmic Form), how did Arjuna receive divine sight? The solution to this is that those very three worlds are themselves a part of that Virāṭ Rūpa. Arjuna stated that the three worlds are but a fragment of the Lord's cosmic body. While beholding the Virāṭ Rūpa, Arjuna's mind was not focused on the Lord's form as his charioteer, and thus his gaze did not fall upon this suffering and distressed world. This proves that all perceived scenes are parts of that Virāṭ Rūpa itself. Profound Insight The entire universe that is seen, heard, and comprehended is but a small fragment of the Lord's divine Virāṭ Rūpa. The inertia and changeability within it are glimpses of the divine Virāṭ Rūpa. Arjuna perceived the Lord's Virāṭ Rūpa with divine vision, but to devotees, this world itself appears as the very form of the Lord. The implication is that to a mundane perception (bhogadṛṣṭi), the world seems real, but in the vision of great souls (mahāprāṇoṅ kī dṛṣṭi), this world is none other than the very form of the Lord. Connection -- Now, scenes of Svarga and other realms appear before Arjuna's vision (within the Virāṭ Rūpa), and he describes them in the subsequent verses.