Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 3

English Translation

O supreme Lord, so it is, as You speak about Yourself. O supreme Person, I wish to see the divine form of Yours.

Detailed Commentary

।।11.3।। 'Purushottama'—this appellation signifies, O Lord, that in this world, none is superior to You. You alone are the Supreme. The Lord Himself stated in the fifteenth chapter that "I am beyond and superior to both kshara (perishable) and akshara (imperishable), therefore, in the Shastras and Vedas, I am known as 'Purushottama'" (15.18). 'Evametadyathāttha Tvamātmānam'—O Purushottama! Whatever You have described regarding Your transcendental glory and power (from the seventh to the tenth chapter) is true. "This world originates from Me alone and dissolves into Me" (7.6), "There is no other cause for it besides Me" (7.7), "Everything is Vasudeva" (7.19), "As Brahma, Adhyatma, Karma, Adhibhuta, Adhidaiva, and Adhiyajna, I alone am" (7.29-30). "The Supreme Tattva attainable through unswerving devotion is Myself" (8.22), "This entire world is pervaded by Me, yet I am not in the world, nor is the world in Me" (9.4-5). "In the form of both Sat (existence) and Asat (non-existence), I am everything" (9.19). "I am the fundamental cause of the world, and from Me alone the world derives its existence (Satta) and vibrancy (Sphurti)" (10.8). "This entire universe rests in a mere fraction of My being" (10.42). All that You have spoken is true. 'Parameshvara'—Arjuna had previously heard from the Lord's own mouth that "I am indeed the great Lord of all beings and worlds — 'bhūtānāmīśvaro’pi' (4.6); 'sarvalokamaheshvaram' (5.29)". Therefore, influenced by the Lord's extraordinary glory, Arjuna addresses Him as 'Parameshvara', meaning, "O Lord, You are truly the Supreme Ishvara, and the master of all divine opulence (Aishvarya)." 'Draṣṭumicchāmi Te Rūpam Aiśvaram'—Arjuna says, "I have heard of Your glory, and I am convinced. Upon hearing 'the entire world rests in a mere fraction of My being,' a longing to behold that form of Yours has arisen in my mind." In the sixteenth verse of the tenth chapter, Arjuna had requested, "Please recount all Your Vibhutis," to which the Lord replied that His Vibhutis are endless (10.19, 40). Therefore, the Lord described them concisely. But here, when Arjuna states, "I wish to see Your one form" — 'Draṣṭumicchāmi Te Rūpam' — the Lord will then say, "Behold My hundreds and thousands of forms" (11.5). The Lord, seated in Arjuna's chariot, says, "You are seeing this body of Mine, within a mere fraction of which the entire Jagat (universe) resides." The implication is that the Lord has a small form, and within a mere fraction of that form, the entire Jagat exists. Arjuna also wishes to behold this.