Bhagavad-gita As It Is - Macmillan 1972 Edition -- Prabhupada Books (84 page)

TRANSLATION

All the demigods are surrendering and entering into You. They are very much afraid, and with folded hands they are singing the Vedic hymns.

PURPORT

The demigods in all the planetary systems feared the terrific manifestation of the universal form and its glowing effulgence and so prayed for protection.

Bg 11.22

TEXT 22

TEXT

rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā

viśve 'śvinau marutaś coṣmapāś ca

gandharva-yakṣāsura-siddha-saṅghā

vīkṣante tvāṁ vismitāś caiva sarve

SYNONYMS

rudra-
manifestations of Lord Śiva;
ādityāḥ-
the Ādityas;
vasavaḥ-
the Vasus;
ye-
all those;
ca-
and;
sādhyāḥ-
the Sādhyas;
viśve-
the Viśvadevas;
aśvinau-
the Aśvinīkumāras;
marutaḥ-
the Maruts;
ca-
and;
uṣmapāḥ-
the forefathers;
ca-
and;
gandharva-
the Gandharvas;
yakṣa-
the Yakṣas;
asura-siddha-
the demons and the perfected demigods;
saṅghāḥ-
assemblies;
vīkṣante-
are seeing;
tvām-
You;
vismitāḥ-
in wonder;
ca-
also;
eva-
certainly;
sarve-
all.

TRANSLATION

The different manifestations of Lord Śiva, the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Sādhyas, the Viśvadevas, the two Aśvins, the Māruts, the forefathers and the Gandharvas, the Yakṣas, Asuras, and all perfected demigods are beholding You in wonder.

Bg 11.23

TEXT 23

TEXT

rūpaṁ mahat te bahu-vaktra-netraṁ

mahā-bāho bahu-bāhūru-pādam

bahūdaraṁ bahu-daṁṣṭrā-karālaṁ

dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathāham

SYNONYMS

rūpam-
form;
mahat-
very great;
te
-of You;
bahu-
many;
vaktra
-faces;
netram
-eyes;
mahā-bāho-
O mighty-armed one;
bahu-
many;
bāhu-
arms;
ūru
-thighs;
pādam-
legs;
bahu-udaram-
many bellies;
babu-daṁṣṭrā-
many teeth;
karālam-
horrible;
dṛṣṭvā-
seeing;
lokāḥ-
all the planets;
pravyathitāḥ-
perturbed;
tathā-
similarly;
aham-
I.

TRANSLATION

O mighty-armed one, all the planets with their demigods are disturbed at seeing Your many faces, eyes, arms, bellies and legs and Your terrible teeth, and as they are disturbed, so am I.

Bg 11.24

TEXT 24

TEXT

nabhaḥ-spṛśaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁ

vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viśāla-netram

dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntar-ātmā

dhṛtiṁ na vindāmi śamaṁ ca viṣṇo

nabhaḥ spṛśam-
touching the sky;
dīptam-
glowing;
aneka
-many;
varṇam
-color;
vyāttā-
open;
ānanam
-mouth;
dīpta-
glowing;
viśāla
-very great;
netram
-eyes;
dṛṣṭvā-
by seeing;
hi-
certainly;
tvām
-You;
pravyathitā
-perturbed;
antaḥ
-within;
ātmā
-soul;
dhṛtim-
steadiness;
na
-no;
vindāmi-
and have;
śamam
-mental tranquility;
ca
-also;
viṣṇo
-O Lord Viṣṇu.

TRANSLATION

O all-pervading Viṣṇu, I can no longer maintain my equilibrium. Seeing Your radiant colors fill the skies and beholding Your eyes and mouths, I am afraid.

Bg 11.25

TEXT 25

TEXT

daṁṣṭrā-karālāni ca te mukhāni

dṛṣṭvaiva kālānala-sannibhāni

diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma

prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa

SYNONYMS

daṁṣṭrā
-teeth;
karālāni-
like that;
ca-
also;
te-
Your;
mukhāni-
faces;
dṛṣṭvā-
seeing;
eva-
thus;
kālānala-
the fire of death;
sannibhāni-
as if blazing;
diśaḥ-
directions;
na jāne-
do not know;
na labhe-
nor obtain;
ca śarma-
and grace;
prasīda-
be pleased;
deveśa
-O Lord of all lords;
jagat-nivāsa-
refuge of the worlds.

TRANSLATION

O Lord of lords, O refuge of the worlds, please be gracious to me. I cannot keep my balance seeing thus Your blazing deathlike faces and awful teeth. In all directions I am bewildered.

Bg 11.26, Bg 11.27, Bg 11.26-27

TEXTS 26-27

TEXT

amī ca tvāṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ

sarve sahaivāvani-pāla-saṅghaiḥ

bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sūta-putras tathāsau

sahāsmadīyair api yodha-mukhyaiḥ

daṁṣṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni

kecid vilagnā daśanāntareṣu

sandṛśyante cūrṇitair uttamāṅgaiḥ

SYNONYMS

amī
-all those;
ca
-also;
tvām
-You;
dhṛtarāṣṭasya
-of Dhṛtarāṣṭra;
putrāḥ
-sons;
sarva
-all;
saha eva
-along with;
avanipāla
-warrior kings;
saṅghaiḥ
-with the groups;
bhīṣmaḥ
-Bhīṣmadeva;
droṇaḥ
-Droṇācārya;
sūta-putraḥ
-Karṇa;
tathā
-also;
asau
-that;
saha
-with;
asmadīyaiḥ
-our;
api
-also;
yodha-mukhyaiḥ
-chief among the warriors;
vaktrāṇi
-mouths;
te
-Your;
tvaramāṇāḥ
-fearful;
viśanti
-entering;
daṁṣṭrā
-teeth;
karālāni
-terrible;
bhayānakāni
-very fearful;
kecit
-some of them;
vilagnāḥ
-being attacked;
daśanāntareṣu
-between the teeth;
sandṛśyante
-being seen;
cūrṇitaiḥ
-smashed;
uttama-aṅgaiḥ
-by the head.

TRANSLATION

All the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra along with their allied kings, and Bhīṣma, Droṇa and Karṇa, and all our soldiers are rushing into Your mouths, their heads smashed by Your fearful teeth. I see that some are being crushed between Your teeth as well.

PURPORT

In a previous verse the Lord promised to show Arjuna things he would by very interested in seeing. Now Arjuna sees that the leaders of the opposite party (Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Karṇa and all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra) and their soldiers and Arjuna's own soldiers are all being annihilated. This is an indication that Arjuna will emerge victorious in battle, despite heavy losses on both sides. It is also mentioned here that Bhīṣma, who is supposed to be unconquerable, will also be smashed. So also Karṇa. Not only will the great warriors of the other party like Bhīṣma be smashed, but some of the great warriors of Arjuna's side also.

Bg 11.28

TEXT 28

TEXT

yathā nadīnāṁ bahavo 'mbu-vegāḥ

samudram evābhimukhā dravanti

tathā tavāmī nara-loka-vīrā

viśanti vaktrāṇy abhivijvalanti

SYNONYMS

yathā-
as;
nadīnām-
of the rivers;
bahavaḥ-
many;
ambu-vegāḥ-
waves of the waters;
samudram-
ocean;
eva-
certainly;
abhimukhāḥ-
towards;
dravanti-
gliding;
tathā-
similarly;
tava-
Your;
amī-
all those;
nara-lokavīrāḥ-
the kings of human society;
viśanti-
entering;
vaktrāṇi-
into the mouths;
abhivijvalanti-
blazing.

TRANSLATION

As the rivers flow into the sea, so all these great warriors enter Your blazing mouths and perish.

Bg 11.29

TEXT 29

TEXT

yathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ pataṅgā

viśanti nāśāya samṛddha-vegāḥ

tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokās

tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddha-vegāḥ

SYNONYMS

yathā-
as;
pradīptam-
blazing;
jvalanam-
fire;
pataṅgāḥ-
moths;
viśanti-
enters;
nāśāya-
destruction;
samṛddha-
full;
vegāḥ-
speed;
tathā eva-
similarly;
nāśāya-
for destruction;
viśanti-
entering;
lokāḥ-
all people.
tava-
unto You;
api-
also;
vaktrāṇi-
in the mouths;
samṛddha-vegāḥ-
with full speed.

TRANSLATION

I see all people rushing with full speed into Your mouths as moths dash into a blazing fire.

Bg 11.30

TEXT 30

TEXT

lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāl

lokān samagrān vadanair jvaladbhiḥ

tejobhir āpūrya jagat samagraṁ

bhāsas tavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo

SYNONYMS

lelihyase-
licking;
grasamānaḥ
-devouring;
samantāt
-from all directions;
lokān-
people;
samagrān
-completely;
vadanaiḥ
-by the mouth;
jvaladbhiḥ-
with blazing;
tejobhiḥ-
by effulgence;
āpūrya
-covering;
jagat
-the universe;
samagram
-all;
bhāsaḥ-
illuminating;
tava
-Your;
ugrāḥ
-terrible;
pratapanti-
scorching;
viṣṇo
-O all-pervading Lord.

TRANSLATION

O Viṣṇu, I see You devouring all people in Your flaming mouths and covering the universe with Your immeasurable rays. Scorching the worlds, You are manifest.

Bg 11.31

TEXT 31

TEXT

ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo

namo 'stu te deva-vara prasīda

vijñātum icchāmi bhavantam ādyaṁ

na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim

SYNONYMS

ākhyāhi
-please explain;
me
-unto me;
kaḥ
-who;
bhavān
-You;
ugra-rūpaḥ
-fierce form;
namaḥ astu
-obeisances;
te
-unto You;
deva-vara
-the great one amongst the demigods;
prasīda
-be gracious;
vijñātum
-just to know;
icchāmi
-I wish;
bhavantam
-You;
ādyam
-the original;
na
-never;
hi
-certainly;
prajānāmi
-do I know;
tava
-Your;
pravṛttim
-mission.

TRANSLATION

O Lord of lords, so fierce of form, please tell me who You are. I offer my obeisances unto You; please be gracious to me. I do not know what Your mission is, and I desire to hear of it.

Bg 11.32

TEXT 32

TEXT

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

kālo 'smi loka-kṣaya-kṛt pravṛddho

lokān samāhartum iha pravṛttaḥ

ṛte 'pi tvāṁ na bhaviṣyanti sarve

ye 'vasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī bhagavān uvāca-
the Personality of Godhead said;
kālaḥ-
time;
asmi
-I am;
loka-
the worlds;
kṣaya-kṛt-
destroyer;
pravṛddhaḥ
-to engage;
lokān-
all people;
samāhartum-
to destroy;
iha-
in this world;
pravṛttaḥ
-to engage;
ṛte
api-
without even;
tvām
-you;
na-
never;
bhaviṣyanti-
will be;
sarve
-all;
ye
-who;
avasthitāḥ-
situated;
pratyanīkeṣu-
on the opposite side;
yodhāḥ
-the soldiers.

TRANSLATION

The Blessed Lord said: Time I am, destroyer of the worlds, and I have come to engage all people. With the exception of you [the Pāṇḍavas], all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain.

PURPORT

Although Arjuna knew that Kṛṣṇa was his friend and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was nonetheless puzzled by the various forms exhibited by Kṛṣṇa. Therefore he asked further about the actual mission of this devastating force. It is written in the
Vedas
that the Supreme Truth destroys everything, even Brahmā.
Yasya brahme ca kṣatram ca ubhe bhavata odanaḥ/mṛtyur yasyopasecanaṁ ka itthā veda yatra saḥ.
Eventually all the
brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas
and everyone else are devoured by the Supreme. This form of the Supreme Lord is an all-devouring giant, and here Kṛṣṇa presents Himself in that form of all-devouring time. Except for a few Pāṇḍavas, everyone who was present in that battlefield would be devoured by Him.