Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 77

English Translation

O king, repeatedly recollecting that greatly extraordinary form of Hari, I am struck with wonder. And I rejoice again and again.

Detailed Commentary

18.77. Explanation: Remembering that... again and again – In the previous verse, Sañjaya described the dialogue between Bhagavan Shri Krishna and Arjuna as wondrous. But here, I declare Bhagavan’s *Viraṭ Rūpa* (Universal Form) to be supremely wondrous. This implies that while the dialogue can still be read and contemplated upon, the *darśana* (vision) of that *Viraṭ Rūpa* is no longer possible. Therefore, that form is exceedingly wondrous. In the ninth verse of the eleventh chapter, Sañjaya had referred to Bhagavan as *Mahāyogeśvara*. Here, he states that remembering the form of such a *Mahāyogeśvara* Bhagavan will inevitably evoke great astonishment. Secondly, Bhagavan, out of His *kṛpā* (grace), showed the *Viśvarūpa* (Universal Form) to Arjuna, but I was able to witness it only through the grace of Vyāsa-ji. Bhagavan had revealed the *Viraṭ Rūpa* to Mother Kausalya in His Rām *Avatāra*, and to Mother Yaśodā in His Kṛṣṇa *Avatāra*, as well as to Duryodhana and others in the Kaurava assembly. However, that form was not as astonishing as the one in which mighty warriors were caught within terrible fangs, and a massive destruction of both armies was unfolding. Remembering such an exceedingly wondrous form, Sañjaya says, "O King, I was able to witness all this only by the grace of Mahārāja Vyāsa-ji. Otherwise, how could someone like me have seen such a form?" Connection (Sambandha): At the commencement of the Bhagavad Gita, Dhṛtarāṣṭra's profound question was concerning the outcome of the war, specifically whether his sons or the sons of Pāṇḍu would be victorious. In the subsequent verse, Sañjaya provides the answer to that very question of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.