Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 36

English Translation

Arjuna said It is proper, O Hrsikesa, that the world becomes delighted and attracted by Your praise; that the Raksasas, stricken with fear, run in all directions; and that all the groups of the Siddhas bow down (toYou).

Detailed Commentary

Even when Arjuna became fearful upon seeing the Lord's exceedingly fierce form, he still offered praise to the Lord. This is because Arjuna was experiencing both fear and bliss. As Arjuna later states, "Adṛṣṭapūrvaṁ hṛṣito'smi dṛṣṭvā bhayena ca pravyathitaṁ mano me" (11.45), meaning "Having seen that which was never seen before, I am delighted, and yet my mind is agitated with fear." This proves that Arjuna was not so terrified that he was unable to praise the Lord. 'Hṛṣīkeśa' means the Lord of the senses. The Lord resides in everyone's heart and bestows power upon the senses. 'Tava prakīrtyā jagatpraḥṛṣyaty anurajyate ca' means that devotees perform kīrtan (chanting) of the Lord's names and glories, and the universe (jagat) is gladdened by this. While moving in the direction of the material world leads to distress, the bhajan-kīrtan of the Lord brings peace to beings, and everyone becomes joyful. Even at the time of the Lord's avatār (incarnation), the entire universe rejoices. Rākṣasas, bhūtas, pretas, and similar entities flee upon hearing the glorification of the Lord. It is their own sins that compel them to do so. If they were to stay, they would be reformed, and their welfare would be achieved. According to 'Sarve namasyanti ca siddhasaṅghāḥ' (and all the hosts of siddhas bow down), siddhas, saintly mahātmas, and sādhakas offer obeisance upon hearing the Lord's kīrtan. All this occurs in the Lord's eternal, divine, and transcendental form. 'Sthāne' means that all this is appropriate (justified). Moving towards the Lord brings peace, bliss, and joy, and obstacles are removed. Turning away from Him results in sorrow and disquiet. The jīvātmā is a part of the Paramātmā and exists within the material world (saṃsāra). When it inclines towards prakṛti (material nature), the desire for bhoga (enjoyment) increases, but when it turns towards the Lord, it becomes blissful and sorrow diminishes. Connection: The appropriateness of the word 'sthāne' in the previous verse is further corroborated in the following four verses.