भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया ।
त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ॥
त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे कमलनयन सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंकी उत्पत्ति और प्रलय मैंने विस्तारपूर्वक आपसे ही सुना है और आपका अविनाशी माहात्म्य भी सुना है ॥
English
O lotus-eyed one, I have heard from You in detail about the arising and passing away of all beings, and also about Your imperishable majesty.
What this verse means
Arjuna says he has learned from Krishna about how all beings come and go, and about Krishna's imperishable greatness.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna has stopped arguing and started seeing. After Krishna's teaching, he says he has understood the rise and fall of all beings and Krishna's imperishable greatness. This prepares him to ask for the cosmic form.
Why this verse still matters
You sit beside someone who has just told you the hard truth, and the room goes quiet. The facts land, but what stays with you is the sense of something larger that cannot be shaken.
The takeaway
Real reverence begins when you see the source behind all change.
Word-by-word translation
भवाप्ययौ (arising and passing away) / हि (indeed) / भूतानाम् (of beings) / श्रुतौ (have been heard) / विस्तरशः (in detail) / मया (by me) / त्वत्तः (from You) / कमलपत्राक्ष (O lotus-eyed one) / माहात्म्यम् (majesty) / अपि (also) / च (and) / अव्ययम् (imperishable)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga — The Universal Form, which contains 55 verses.
Explore related themes: vishwarupa (50 verses), arjuna prayer (14 verses)