Tell me who You are in this fierce form. Salutations to You, best of the radiant beings; be gracious. I wish to know You, the primal one, for I do not understand Your purpose.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.31
Hindi · हिन्दी
मुझे यह बताइये कि उग्ररूपवाले आप कौन हैं हे देवताओंमें श्रेष्ठ आपको नमस्कार हो । आप प्रसन्न होइये । आदिरूप आपको मैं तत्त्वसे जानना चाहता हूँ क्योंकि मैं आपकी प्रवृत्तिको नहीं जानता ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
आख्याहिtellमेto meकःwhoभवान्You areउग्र-रूपःfierce-formedनमः अस्तुsalutations beतेto Youदेव-वरbest of the radiant beingsप्रसीदbe graciousविज्ञातुम् इच्छामिI wish to knowभवन्तम्Youआद्यम्the primal oneन हिindeed notप्रजानामिI knowतवYour
Read literallytell · to me · who · You are · fierce-formed · salutations be · to You · best of the radiant beings · be gracious · I wish to know · You · the primal one · indeed not · I know · Your
Understanding the verse
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Arjuna, terrified, bows and asks two plain questions: who are you in this fierce form, and why?
Arjuna bows in fear and asks Krishna to reveal who this terrible form is. He wants to understand the primal source behind the overwhelming vision.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna has just seen Krishna's cosmic form devouring the armies. Overwhelmed, he stops resisting, bows, and asks the one question left: who is this fierce presence, and what is its purpose?
03
In your life
What it looks like today
When a doctor shows a family a frightening scan, the useful first move is to ask what it means before deciding anything. Arjuna does that here: he bows, admits he does not understand, and asks.
The takeaway
“Awe can become clarity when fear turns into honest asking.”
Arjuna bows in fear and asks Krishna to reveal who this terrible form is. He wants to understand the primal source behind the overwhelming vision.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.31?
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 11.31?
Verse 31 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 11.31 matter today?
When a doctor shows a family a frightening scan, the useful first move is to ask what it means before deciding anything. Arjuna does that here: he bows, admits he does not understand, and asks.
Arjuna, terrified, bows and asks two plain questions: who are you in this fierce form, and why?
What this verse means
Arjuna bows in fear and asks Krishna to reveal who this terrible form is. He wants to understand the primal source behind the overwhelming vision.
Context & commentary
Arjuna has just seen Krishna's cosmic form devouring the armies. Overwhelmed, he stops resisting, bows, and asks the one question left: who is this fierce presence, and what is its purpose?
What it looks like today
When a doctor shows a family a frightening scan, the useful first move is to ask what it means before deciding anything. Arjuna does that here: he bows, admits he does not understand, and asks.
“Awe can become clarity when fear turns into honest asking.”
Explore related themes: arjuna (52 verses), vishwarupa (50 verses), cosmic form (25 verses)