I have never seen this form before. Seeing it, I am filled with joy, yet my mind is troubled by fear. Show me again your gentle divine form; be pleased, O Lord of lords, O dwelling of the world.
— Arjuna
❋
Bhagavad Gita · 11.45
Hindi · हिन्दी
मैंने ऐसा रुप पहले कभी नहीं देखा । इस रूपको देखकर मैं हर्षित हो रहा हूँ और साथहीसाथ भयसे मेरा मन अत्यन्त व्यथित हो रहा है । अतः आप मुझे अपने उसी देवरूपको सौम्य विष्णुरूपको दिखाइये । हे देवेश हे जगन्निवास आप प्रसन्न होइये ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
अदृष्टपूर्वम्never seen beforeहृषितःdelightedअस्मिI amदृष्ट्वाhaving seenअभयेनwith fearlessnessचandप्रव्यथितम्disturbedमनःmindमेmyतत्thatएवonlyमेto meदर्शयshowदेवO divine oneरूपम्formप्रसीदbe graciousदेवेशLord of lordsजगन्निवासdwelling of the world
Read literallynever seen before · delighted · I am · having seen · with fearlessness · and · disturbed · mind · my · that · only · to me · show · O divine one · form · be gracious · Lord of lords · dwelling of the world
Understanding the verse
✦
It shows that revelation must be met with humility, and that surrender can include asking for a form the mind can bear.
Arjuna is overwhelmed by Krishna's cosmic form. He asks to see the familiar, gentle form again because the vast vision fills him with both awe and fear.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna has just seen Krishna's universal form and cannot bear its intensity. He is thrilled by the revelation, yet shaken by fear. So he asks Krishna to withdraw that overwhelming vision and appear again in the gentler, familiar form.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You finally hear the brutal truth you asked for, and it lands harder than expected. Part of you is grateful; part of you wants the conversation to return to something human again.
The takeaway
“Even wonder can become too much; the heart still longs for what feels safe and known.”
Arjuna is overwhelmed by Krishna's cosmic form. He asks to see the familiar, gentle form again because the vast vision fills him with both awe and fear.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.45?
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 11.45?
Verse 45 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 11.45 matter today?
You finally hear the brutal truth you asked for, and it lands harder than expected. Part of you is grateful; part of you wants the conversation to return to something human again.
It shows that revelation must be met with humility, and that surrender can include asking for a form the mind can bear.
What this verse means
Arjuna is overwhelmed by Krishna's cosmic form. He asks to see the familiar, gentle form again because the vast vision fills him with both awe and fear.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna has just seen Krishna's universal form and cannot bear its intensity. He is thrilled by the revelation, yet shaken by fear. So he asks Krishna to withdraw that overwhelming vision and appear again in the gentler, familiar form.
Why this verse still matters
You finally hear the brutal truth you asked for, and it lands harder than expected. Part of you is grateful; part of you wants the conversation to return to something human again.
“Even wonder can become too much; the heart still longs for what feels safe and known.”
Explore related themes: vishwarupa (50 verses), surrender (23 verses), arjuna prayer (14 verses)