Chapter 11Verse 20 of 55

Bhagavad Gita 11.20

द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः | दृष्ट्वाद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन् ||

dyāv ā-pṛthivyor idam antaraṁ hi vyāptaṁ tvayaikena diśaś ca sarvāḥ | dṛṣṭvādbhutaṁ rūpam ugraṁ tavedaṁ loka-trayaṁ pravyathitaṁ mahātman ||

Translation

This space between heaven and earth and all the quarters is pervaded by you alone. Seeing this wondrous and terrible form of yours, the three worlds are troubled, O great-souled one.

The space between heaven and earth, and all the quarters, are filled by you alone. Twayaikena, by you alone. Seeing this wondrous and terrible form, the three worlds are troubled. Adbhutam rupam ugram, wondrous and terrible. Pravyathitam, distressed, agitated. The double adjective is the load-bearing word. The vision is wonderful and it is also fierce, and both at once. The three worlds, sky earth and below, are not viewing the form from a distance. They are inside the body that fills them, and they are shaken by the recognition. Arjuna reports the cosmos itself trembling. The address mahatman, great-souled one, holds the formality. The seer keeps speaking carefully even as what he sees becomes harder to receive.

Reflection

What in your life is both wonderful and frightening, and have you let it be both?

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Eleven

Ask the Gita about this verse →