Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 45

English Translation

I am delighted by seeing something not seen heretofore, and my mind is stricken with fear. O Lord, show me that very form; O supreme God, O Abode of the Universe, be gracious!

Detailed Commentary

।।11.45।। Commentary—Arjuna requests the Lord to show His Divine Form. He had never seen such an unprecedented and vast form. Upon seeing it, he felt both joy and fear. 'Tadeva Me Darshaya Devarūpam'—Arjuna desires to see the *Devarūpam* or *Vishnurūpam*. Within the *Vishwarūpam*, he had seen Brahmā and Vishnu. Now Arjuna is telling the Lord to show him that very *Devarūpam*. He addresses the Lord with the words 'Prasīda Deveśa Jagannivāsa'. Special Note The Lord's *Vishwarūpam* is divine and imperishable. It contains infinite universes, along with Brahmā, Vishnu, and Shiva. This *Vishwarūpam* is eternal. Its brilliance is like thousands of suns. It is not possible to perceive it without a 'divya chakshu' (divine eye). All of the Lord's forms, such as the two-armed (*dvibhuja*) and four-armed (*chaturbhuja*), are divine. Therefore, when there is a need to manifest His supreme opulence, the Lord displays the *Virāṭrūpam*. The Lord possesses infinite divine qualities. He embodies all kinds of divine attributes. The Lord bestows *divyadrishti* (divine vision) upon whosoever He reveals the *Vishwarūpam* to. Here, the Lord showed Arjuna various levels of His *Vishwarūpam*. When Arjuna became afraid, the Lord did not show him further. The Lord displayed only as many levels as Arjuna was capable of perceiving.