Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 11 · Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 11.24 नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं
श्लोक 11.24
नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं
व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् ।
दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा
धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो ॥
nabhaḥspṛśaṃ dīptamanekavarṇaṃ
vyāttānanaṃ dīptaviśālanetram |
dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṃ pravyathitāntarātmā
dhṛtiṃ na vindāmi śamaṃ ca viṣṇo ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे विष्णु! आकाश को छूते, अनेक रंगों से चमकते, फैले हुए मुखों और प्रज्वलित विशाल नेत्रों वाले आपको देखकर मेरा अंतर्मन काँप रहा है; मुझे न धैर्य मिल रहा है, न शांति।
Meaning in English
Seeing you touching the sky, blazing in many colours, mouths wide open, with huge flaming eyes, my inmost being trembles, and I find neither courage nor peace, O Vishnu.
Bhagavad Gita 11.24 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नभःस्पृशम् | nabhaḥ-spṛśam | touching the sky |
| दीप्तम् | dīptam | blazing |
| अनेकवर्णम् | aneka-varṇam | many-coloured |
| व्यात्ताननम् | vyātta-ānanam | with mouths wide open |
| दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् | dīpta-viśāla-netram | with huge blazing eyes |
| दृष्ट्वा | dṛṣṭvā | seeing |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| त्वाम् | tvām | you |
| प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा | pravyathita-antar-ātmā | shaken in my inmost being |
| धृतिम् | dhṛtim | steadiness |
| न विन्दामि | na vindāmi | I do not find |
| शमम् | śamam | peace |
| च | ca | and |
| विष्णो | viṣṇo | O Vishnu |
Explanation
Seeing you touching the sky, blazing and many-coloured, with gaping mouths and huge fiery eyes, my innermost self is shaken, and I find neither courage nor peace, O Vishnu. Arjuna confesses that the vision has taken away all his composure.
Arjuna addresses Krishna as Vishnu, recognising him as the all-pervading Lord. The words dhriti (firmness) and shama (calm) are the very qualities the Gita teaches elsewhere; Arjuna admits they have deserted him. Commentators observe that knowledge of God in his overwhelming power alone does not bring peace; this prepares for the ending of the chapter, where Krishna returns to his gentle form and teaches that loving devotion (11.54 to 11.55) is the way to approach him.
भावार्थ
हे विष्णो, आकाश को छूते हुए, प्रकाशमान, अनेक रंगों वाले, फैले हुए मुखों और चमकते विशाल नेत्रों वाले आपको देखकर मेरा अन्तःकरण भयभीत है; मुझे न धैर्य मिल रहा है, न शान्ति।
Living it today
When you lose your calm, name it honestly and turn towards what steadies you, rather than pretending all is well.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 11.24?
Seeing you touching the sky, blazing and many-coloured, with gaping mouths and huge fiery eyes, my innermost self is shaken, and I find neither courage nor peace, O Vishnu. Arjuna confesses that the vision has taken away all his composure.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.24?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 11 (Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 11.24 in daily life?
When you lose your calm, name it honestly and turn towards what steadies you, rather than pretending all is well.
Reflected on verse 11.24?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.