I see You with many arms, bellies, mouths, and eyes, everywhere without end. I see no beginning, middle, or end of You, O Lord of all, O cosmic form.
— Arjuna
❋
Bhagavad Gita · 11.16
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे विश्वरूप हे विश्वेश्वरव आपको मैं अनेक हाथों, पेटों, मुखों और नेत्रोंवाला तथा सब ओरसे अनन्त रूपोंवाला देख रहा हूँ । मैं आपके न आदिको, न मध्यको और न अन्तको ही देख रहा हूँ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
अनेकबाहुmany-armedउदरbelliedवक्त्रmouthedनेत्रeyedपश्यामिI seeत्वाम्Youसर्वतःeverywhereअनन्तरूपम्endless-formedन अन्तम्no endन मध्यम्no middleन पुनः तव आदिम्nor again Your beginningपश्यामिI seeविश्वेश्वरLord of allविश्वरूपcosmic form
Read literallymany-armed · bellied · mouthed · eyed · I see · You · everywhere · endless-formed · no end · no middle · nor again Your beginning · I see · Lord of all · cosmic form
Understanding the verse
✦
It shifts the mind from measuring reality to bowing before what cannot be contained.
Arjuna sees Krishna’s cosmic form as limitless, with countless arms, mouths, and eyes. He cannot find its beginning, middle, or end.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna has been granted the vision of Krishna’s universal form. Stunned, he describes an immeasurable presence with countless features and no visible limits. This verse deepens his awe before the form that is about to reveal its full power.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You stand before a truth too large to fit your old categories. The urge to label it fades; reverence begins where control ends.
The takeaway
“A mind can be overwhelmed by what is greater than it and still stay reverent.”
It shifts the mind from measuring reality to bowing before what cannot be contained.
What this verse means
Arjuna sees Krishna’s cosmic form as limitless, with countless arms, mouths, and eyes. He cannot find its beginning, middle, or end.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna has been granted the vision of Krishna’s universal form. Stunned, he describes an immeasurable presence with countless features and no visible limits. This verse deepens his awe before the form that is about to reveal its full power.
Why this verse still matters
You stand before a truth too large to fit your old categories. The urge to label it fades; reverence begins where control ends.
“A mind can be overwhelmed by what is greater than it and still stay reverent.”
Explore related themes: arjuna (52 verses), vishwarupa (50 verses), awe (13 verses)