विश्वरूपदर्शनयोगः
Viśvarūpa Darśana Yoga — The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form
Arjuna, having asked to see Krishna's true form, is shown the terrifying vishwarupa — an infinite body containing all worlds, gods, and time itself, its many mouths devouring the very warriors who are about to die in the war ahead. At the vision's climax Krishna declares "kalo'smi lokakshayakrit" — I am Time, the destroyer of worlds — reframing the impending battle as an outcome already decided, with Arjuna cast as instrument rather than cause. Arjuna's terror gives way to an extended hymn of praise, then to genuine embarrassment at having once addressed this infinite being as a casual friend, and finally to a plea for the vision to end. Krishna obliges in stages — first the four-armed form, then the ordinary human one — and closes the chapter by teaching that this cosmic form can be known only through undivided devotion (bhakti), not through Vedic study, sacrifice, austerity, or charity.
This word of the supreme Secret concerning the Self, Thou hast spoken out of compassion; by this my delusion is taken away.
The production and destruction of beings have been heard by me in detail from Thee, O Lotus-eyed, and also Thy imperishable greatness.
O supreme Lord, even as Thou describest Thyself, O best of beings, I desire to see Thy Form omnipotent.
If Thou thinkest that by me It can be seen, O Lord, Lord of Yoga, then show me Thine imperishable Self.
Behold, O Pârtha, a Form of Me, a hundredfold, a thousandfold, various in kind, divine, various in colours and shapes.
Behold the Âdityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvins and also the Maruts; behold many marvels never seen ere this, O Bhârata.
Here, to-day, behold the whole universe, movable and immovable, standing in one in My body, O Gudâkesha, with aught else thou desirest to see.
But verily thou art not able to behold Me with these thine eyes; the divine eye I give unto thee. Behold My sovereign Yoga.
Having thus spoken, O King, the great Lord of Yoga, Hari, showed to Pârtha His supreme Form as Lord.
With many mouths and eyes, with many visions of marvel, with many divine ornaments, with many upraised divine weapons;
Wearing divine necklaces and vestures, anointed with divine unguents, the God all-marvellous, boundless, with face turned everywhere.
If the splendour of a thousand suns were to blaze out together in the sky, that might resemble the glory of that Mahâtman.
There Pândava beheld the whole universe, divided into manifold parts, standing in one in the body of the Deity of Deities.
Then he, Dhananjaya, overwhelmed with astonishment, his hair upstanding, bowed down his head to the Shining One, and with joined palms spake.
Within Thy Form, O God, the Gods I see, all grades of beings with distinctive marks; Brahma, the Lord, upon His lotus-throne, the Rishis all, and Serpents, the Divine.
With mouths, eyes, arms, breasts multitudinous, I see Thee everywhere, unbounded Form. Beginning, middle, end, nor source of Thee, Infinite Lord, infinite Form, I find;
Shining, a mass of splendour everywhere, with discus, mace, tiara, I behold: blazing as fire, as sun dazzling the gaze, from all sides in the sky, immeasurable.
Lofty beyond all thought, unperishing, Thou treasure-house supreme, all-immanent; eternal Dharma's changeless Guardian, Thou; as immemorial Man I think of Thee.
Nor source, nor midst, nor end; infinite force, unnumbered arms, the sun and moon Thine eyes I see Thy face, as sacrificial fire blazing, its splendour burneth up the worlds.
By Thee alone are filled the earth, the heavens, and all the regions that are stretched between; the triple worlds sink down, O mighty One, before Thine awful manifested Form.
To Thee the troops of Suras enter in, some with joined palms in awe invoking Thee; banded Maharshis, Siddhas, cry: "All hail"! Chanting Thy praises with resounding songs.
Rudras, Vasus, Sâdhyas and Adityas, Vishvas, the Ashvins, Maruts, Ushmapas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Siddhas, Asuras, in wondering multitudes beholding Thee.
Thy mighty Form, with many mouths and eyes, long armed, with thighs and feet innumerate, vast-bosomed, set with many fearful teeth, the worlds see terror-struck, as also I.
Radiant, Thou touchest heaven, rainbow-hued, with opened mouths and shining vast-orbed eyes. My inmost self is quaking, having seen, my strength is withered, Vishnu, and my peace.
Like Time's destroying flames I see Thy teeth, upstanding, spread within expanded jaws; nought know I anywhere, no shelter find; Mercy, O God! refuge of all the worlds!
The sons of Dhṛitarâshtra, and with them The multitude of all these kings of earth, Bhîshma, and Drona, Sûta's royal son, And all the noblest warriors of our hosts,
Into Thy gaping mouths they hurrying rush, Tremendous-toothed and terrible to see; Some caught within the gaps between Thy teeth Are seen, their heads to powder crushed and ground.
As river-floods impetuously rush, Hurling their waters into ocean's lap, So fling themselves into Thy flaming mouths, In haste, these mighty men, these lords of earth.
As moths with quickened speed will headlong fly Into a flaming light, to fall destroyed, So also these, in haste precipitate, Enter within Thy mouths destroyed to fall.
On every side, all-swallowing, fiery-tongued, Thou lickest up mankind, devouring all; The glory filleth space: the universe Is burning, Vishnu, with Thy blazing rays.
Reveal Thy Self; what awful Form art Thou? I worship Thee! Have mercy, God supreme! Thine inner Being I am fain to know; This Thy forth-streaming Life bewilders me.
Time am I, laying desolate the world, Made manifest on earth to slay mankind! Not one of all these warriors ranged for strife Escapeth death; thou shalt alone survive.
Therefore stand up! win for thyself renown, Conquer thy foes, enjoy the wealth filled realm, By Me they are already overcome, Be thou the outward cause, left-handed one.
Drona and Bhîshma and Jayadratha, Karna, and all the other warriors here, Are slain by Me. Destroy them fearlessly. Fight! thou shalt crush thy rivals in the field.
Having heard these words of Keshava, he who weareth a diadem, with joined palms, quaking and prostrating himself, spake again to Krishna, stammering with fear, casting down his face.
Hrishîkesha! in Thy magnificence Rightly the world rejoiceth, hymning Thee; The Râkshasas to every quarter fly In fear; the hosts of Siddhas prostrate fall.
How should they otherwise, O loftiest Self! First Cause! Brahmâ Himself less great than Thou. Infinite, God of Gods, home of all worlds, Unperishing, Sat, Asat, That supreme!
First of the Gods, most ancient Man Thou art. Supreme receptacle of all that lives; Knower and known, the dwelling-place on high; In Thy vast Form the universe is spread.
Thou art Vâyu and Yama, Agni, moon, Varuna, Father, Grandsire of all; Hail, hail to Thee! a thousand times all hail! Hail unto Thee! again, again all hail!
Prostrate in front of Thee, prostrate behind; Prostrate on every side to Thee, O All. In power boundless, measureless in strength, Thou holdest all: then Thou Thyself art All.
If, thinking Thee but friend, importunate, O Krishna! or O Yâdava! O friend! I cried, unknowing of Thy majesty, And careless in the fondness of my love;
If jesting I irreverence showed to Thee, At play, reposing, sitting or at meals, Alone, O sinless One, or with my friends, Forgive my error, O Thou boundless One.
Father of worlds, of all that moves and stands, Worthier of reverence than the Guru's self, There is none like to Thee. Who passeth Thee? Pre-eminent Thy power in all the worlds.
Therefore I fall before Thee; with my body I worship as it fitting; bless Thou me. As father with the son, as friend with friend, With the beloved as lover, bear with me.
I have seen that which none hath seen before, My heart is glad, yet faileth me for fear; Show me, O God, Thine other Form again— Mercy, O God of Gods, home of all worlds—
Diademed, mace and discus in Thy hand. Again I fain would see Thee as before; Put on again Thy four-armed shape, O Lord, O thousand-armed, of forms innumerate.
Arjuna, by My favour thou hast seen, This loftiest Form by yoga's self revealed! Radiant, all-penetrating, endless, first, That none except thyself hath ever seen.
Nor sacrifice, nor Vedas, alms, nor works, Nor sharp austerity, nor study deep, Can win the vision of this Form for man, Foremost of Kurus, thou alone hast seen.
Be not bewildered, be thou not afraid, Because thou hast beheld this awful Form; Cast fear away, and let thy heart rejoice; Behold again Mine own familiar shape.
Vâsudeva, having thus spoken to Arjuna, again manifested His own Form, and consoled the terrified one, the Mahâtman again assuming a gentle form.
Beholding again Thy gentle human Form, O Janârdana, I am now collected, and am restored to my own nature.
This Form of Mine beholden by thee is very hard to see. Verily the Shining Ones ever long to behold this form.
Nor can I be seen as thou hast seen Me by the Vedas, nor by austerities, nor by alms, or by offerings;
But by devotion to Me alone I may thus be perceived, Arjuna, and known and seen in essence, and entered, O Parantapa.
He who doeth actions for Me, whose supreme good I am, My devotee, freed from attachment without hatred of any being, he cometh unto Me, O Pândava.