Monday, August 5, 2013

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 - Viswarupa Darasana Yoga - Sloka 19

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Adidevavananda's translation of The Ramanuja Gita Bhashya, published by Ramakrishna Mission

The Cosmic Vision Defined 15-31
1 Gita Sloka  every day - Chapter 11 - Viswarupa Darsana Yoga - Sloka 19


Anadi madhya antam ananta viryam ananta bahum sashi surya netram I
Pashyami tvam dipta hutasha vaktram svatejasa vishvam idam tapantam II sloka 19
अनादि मध्य अन्तं अनन्त वीर्यं अनन्त बाहुं सशि सूर्य नेत्रं I
पश्यामि त्वं दीप्त हुताश वक्त्रं स्व तेजसा विश्वं इदं तपन्तम् II श्लोक 19

I behold you as without beginning, middle and end. Your might is infinite. You are endowed with an endless number of arms. The sun and the moon are your eyes. Your mouth is emitting burning fire. With your own radiance you are warming the whole universe. 

I behold you as without beginning, middle and end. Your might is infinite of unsurpassed excellence. Here the word "might" is used for illustration. The meaning is that you are the sole repository of knowledge, strength, sovereignty, valour,power and glory, one whose excellence cannot be surpassed. 

You are endowed with an endless number of arms. This is also for illustration implying that you have an infinite number of arms, stomachs, feet, mouths etc.

The sun and the moon are your eyes; all your eyes are like the moon and the sun, beaming with grace and power. The grace is directed towards the devotees like the gods who offer salutations etc. and the power is directed against the asuras, rakshasas, etc. who are opposed to these. For it will  be said later on (11.36) - "The rakshasas flee on all sides in fear, and all the host of siddhas bow down to you." 

Your mouth is emitting burning fire, namely the fire of destroying all things, as the fire of time consumes the world at the time of dissolution. 

With your own radiance you are warming the whole universe. By radiance (Tejas) is meant the power to vanquish others. I behold you warming (or governing) the universe with your own radiance. The meaning is this : "I directly realise you" as taught before as the creator of all, as the supporter of everything, as the ocean of knowledge and other infinite attributes, as without beginning, middle or end, and as possessing a divine body of this nature. How in one divine body, can there be many stomachs, etc? This is possible in the following way : From a hip of infinite extent, stomachs etc. as described, branch off downwards. So there is no contradiction in attributing a pair of eyes for each face.

On perceiving you to be thus, the gods etc., and myself, have become frightened - says Arjuna in the following sloka.

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