Bhagavad Gita BG 11.11
Chapter 11, Verse 11 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् । सर्वाश्चर्यमयं देवम् अनन्तं विश्वतोमुखम् ॥
divya-malyambara-dharam divya-gandhanulepnam sarvashcaryamayam devam anantam vishvato-mukham
Meaning
Wearing divine garlands (malya) and garments (ambara) — anointed with divine fragrance (gandha) — the all-wondrous (sarva-ashcaryamaya) Divine, infinite (ananta), with face in every direction (vishvato-mukha).
Understanding
A continuation of the description of the universal form (begun in the previous verses): divya-malya-ambara-dharam — wearing divine garlands (malya) and garments (ambara). Not the earthly flowers but the celestial, inexhaustible blossoms. Divya-gandha-anulepnam — anointed with divine fragrance (gandha). The divine form is not only visual but also carries the immaculate fragrance of the transcendent — a synesthetic vision where all senses are engaged by the divine. Sarva-ashcaryamayam — made entirely of wonder, wondrous in every aspect. Devam — the divine. Anantam — infinite, without limit. Vishvato-mukham — facing every direction, with face in all directions (vishvato = everywhere, mukha = face). The form faces all directions simultaneously — there is no 'back' to the Absolute; it is simultaneously present to all.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरम् | divya-malya-ambara-dharam | wearing divine garlands (malya) and garments (ambara) |
| दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम् | divya-gandha-anulepnam | anointed with divine fragrance (gandha = scent, anulepana = anointing) |
| सर्वाश्चर्यमयम् | sarva-ashcaryamayam | made entirely of wonder, all-marvelous |
| अनन्तम् | anantam | infinite, without end, limitless |
| विश्वतोमुखम् | vishvato-mukham | with face in every direction (vishvato = everywhere, mukha = face) |
| दिव्य-माल्य-अम्बर-धरम् | divya-mālya-ambara-dharam | wearing divine garlands and garments |
| सर्व-आश्चर्यमयम् | sarva-āścaryamayam | full of all wonders |
| देवम् | devam | the divine, the Lord |
| विश्वतो-मुखम् | viśvato-mukham | facing all directions |