Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 8

English Translation

But you are not able to see Me merely with this eye of yours. I grant you the supernatural eye; bhold My divine Yoga.

Detailed Commentary

।।11.8।। Explanation-- 'न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा' (You cannot see Me with these very eyes of yours)-- The power of your *charmachakshu* (physical eyes) is very limited and finite. These physical eyes can only perceive the forms of ordinary humans, animals, birds, their distinctions, sunlight and shadow, etc. But they cannot perceive My form, which transcends the mind, intellect, and senses. 'दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्' (I give you divine eyes; behold My supreme Yogic power)-- I grant you divine eyes so that you may behold My transcendental form and also perceive its divinity. Perceiving divinity is not a function of the eyes, but of the intellect; yet, the Lord states that with the divine eyes granted by Him, you will be able to behold His transcendental power. This implies that *divya chakshu* (divine eyes) are required to perceive His *Virāt Rūpa* (Universal Form). The word 'pashya' (behold) signifies seeing with both the intellect and the physical eyes. In the ninth chapter, by stating 'पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्', the emphasis was on knowing through the intellect, whereas here, it refers to seeing with the eyes. **Special Point** For example, when someone looks at the Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā. To one who does not know the alphabet, it appears as mere black lines. To one who knows the alphabet, letters are visible. But one who is educated and has deeply contemplated the Gītā, on merely looking at the Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā, comprehends all its truths. Similarly, when the Lord granted *divya chakshu* to Arjuna, the transcendental *Viśvarūpa* became visible to him, which is not comprehensible by ordinary intellect. This was the power of the divine eyes bestowed by the Lord. Here, a question arises: when Arjuna stated in the fourth verse that if he could behold the Lord's Universal Form, then the Lord should show it to him. The Lord could have directly stated that it cannot be seen with these *charmachakshu* and therefore, He would grant divine eyes. But the Lord commanded Arjuna to see by saying 'pashya pashya' (behold, behold), and when Arjuna could not see, He resolved the situation by granting divine eyes. The Lord wished to demonstrate how His grace increases upon the seeker. The Lord is compassionate, and His grace knows no bounds. His methods of bestowing grace upon devotees are unique. The Lord first instructed Arjuna and imparted knowledge of His *Vibhūtīs* (divine glories). This led Arjuna to say that he was not satisfied by merely hearing His nectar-like words. Upon hearing the description of His glories, Arjuna prayed to see the *Virāt Rūpa*. The Lord showed that form, but Arjuna could not perceive it, so He completed the act by granting divine eyes. The essence is that when one takes refuge in the Lord, He Himself accomplishes all tasks. Connection-- In the next verse, Sañjaya tells Dhṛtarāṣṭra what kind of form Arjuna beheld after receiving the *divya chakshu* from the Lord.