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. Tap 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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Calling Krishna Vishnu, Arjuna says the sky-touching blaze has taken away his steadiness and peace.
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
Arjuna asked to see Krishna's universal form. What he sees overwhelms him instead of comforting him: a vast, blazing presence beyond ordinary sight. This verse captures his loss of steadiness as awe turns into fear.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
Asked to take over the family firm after his father's stroke, a young man feels the size of the job land on him at once. Arjuna's cry fits that moment: he asked to see the whole, and now cannot find his footing.
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?
Asked to take over the family firm after his father's stroke, a young man feels the size of the job land on him at once. Arjuna's cry fits that moment: he asked to see the whole, and now cannot find his footing.
Calling Krishna Vishnu, Arjuna says the sky-touching blaze has taken away his steadiness and peace.
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
Arjuna asked to see Krishna's universal form. What he sees overwhelms him instead of comforting him: a vast, blazing presence beyond ordinary sight. This verse captures his loss of steadiness as awe turns into fear.
What it looks like today
Asked to take over the family firm after his father's stroke, a young man feels the size of the job land on him at once. Arjuna's cry fits that moment: he asked to see the whole, and now cannot find his footing.
“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)