Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 5

English Translation

The Blessed Lord said O son of Prtha, behold My forms in (their) hundreds and in thousands, of different kinds, celestial, and of various colours and shapes.

Detailed Commentary

Chapter 11, Verse 5. Commentary -- " 'Behold, Pārtha, My forms, hundreds and thousands.' " Hearing Arjuna's hesitant prayer, the Lord was greatly pleased. Therefore, addressing Arjuna as 'Pārtha,' He says, 'Behold My countless forms.' Just as the Lord has declared the infinitude of His manifestations (Vibhutis), so too here He is revealing the infinitude of His forms. " 'Of various kinds, divine, of diverse colors and shapes.' " The Lord describes the characteristics of those forms, stating that they have diverse structures and distinct colors. Some are yellow, some red. Each form possesses multiple colors. The shapes too are varied, such as small, stout, tall, and broad. Just as a small particle of Earth is also Earth itself, similarly, this world, being a small part of the Lord's infinite Vishvarūpa, is also the Vishvarūpa. However, it does not manifest before everyone in its divine form, but rather as the mundane world (samsara). The reason for this is that human vision is directed not towards the Lord, but towards the perishable world. Just as when the Lord incarnates (takes avatar), He does not appear before everyone in His divine Lordly form (Bhagavata-rupa) (Gita 7.25), but rather appears in human form; similarly, the Vishvarūpa Lord remains manifest before everyone as the mundane world, meaning everyone perceives this Vishvarūpa as the world. But here, the Lord, manifesting in His divine, imperishable Vishvarūpa, is telling Arjuna, 'Behold My divine forms.' Connection – In the previous verse, the Lord spoke of beholding diverse colors and shapes within His Vishvarūpa. Now, in the next verse, He will speak of beholding the deities (devas).