O Vishnu, seeing you touching the sky, blazing with many colors, with mouths spread wide and bright, vast eyes, my inner being is shaken. I cannot find steadiness or peace.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.24
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे विष्णो आपके अनेक देदीप्यमान वर्ण हैं, आप आकाशको स्पर्श कर रहे हैं, आपका मुख फैला हुआ है आपके नेत्र प्रदीप्त और विशाल हैं । ऐसे आपको देखकर भयभीत अन्तःकरणवाला मैं धैर्य और शान्तिको प्राप्त नहीं हो रहा हूँ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
नभःस्पृशम्touching the skyदीप्तम्blazingअनेकवर्णम्of many colorsव्यात्ताननम्with spread-open mouthsदीप्तविशालनेत्रम्with blazing vast eyesदृष्ट्वाhaving seenहिindeedत्वाम्youप्रव्यथितान्तरात्माwith shaken inner beingधृतिम्steadinessन विन्दामिI do not findशमम्peaceचandविष्णोO Vishnu
Read literallytouching the sky · blazing · of many colors · with spread-open mouths · with blazing vast eyes · having seen · indeed · you · with shaken inner being · steadiness · I do not find · peace · and · O Vishnu
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the reader from trying to master the sacred to admitting helplessness before it.
Arjuna is overwhelmed by Krishna's cosmic form. The sight shakes his inner being so deeply that he cannot find calm or steadiness.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna has asked to see Krishna's universal form. What he sees is not comforting but overwhelming: a vast, blazing presence beyond ordinary sight. This verse captures his loss of steadiness as awe turns into fear.
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In your life
Why this verse still matters
You open a message and realize the decision in front of you is bigger than you wanted. The old confidence drops away, and all you can feel is the weight of it.
The takeaway
“Some experiences are so vast that the mind cannot hold them. Humility begins when control falls away.”
Arjuna is overwhelmed by Krishna's cosmic form. The sight shakes his inner being so deeply that he cannot find calm or steadiness.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.24?
Arjuna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga" (The Universal Form).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 11.24?
Verse 24 sits in Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga, "The Universal Form". The chapter has 55 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 11.24 matter today?
You open a message and realize the decision in front of you is bigger than you wanted. The old confidence drops away, and all you can feel is the weight of it.
It shifts the reader from trying to master the sacred to admitting helplessness before it.
What this verse means
Arjuna is overwhelmed by Krishna's cosmic form. The sight shakes his inner being so deeply that he cannot find calm or steadiness.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna has asked to see Krishna's universal form. What he sees is not comforting but overwhelming: a vast, blazing presence beyond ordinary sight. This verse captures his loss of steadiness as awe turns into fear.
Why this verse still matters
You open a message and realize the decision in front of you is bigger than you wanted. The old confidence drops away, and all you can feel is the weight of it.
“Some experiences are so vast that the mind cannot hold them. Humility begins when control falls away.”
Explore related themes: arjuna (52 verses), vishwarupa (50 verses), krishna (31 verses)