Bhagavad Gita BG 11.2
Chapter 11, Verse 2 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया । त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ॥
bhavapyayau hi bhutanam shrutau vistarasho maya tvattah kamala-patraksha mahatmyam api cavyayam
Meaning
The birth (bhava) and dissolution (apyaya) of beings have been heard from You in detail (vistarashah), O Lotus-eyed One (kamala-patraksha), and also Your inexhaustible (avyaya) greatness (mahatmyam).
Understanding
Arjuna's opening statement in Chapter 11 is a calm confirmation of what has been received: bhavapyayau hi bhutanam (the birth/arising and dissolution/return of all beings) shrutau vistarashah maya (have been heard by me in detail, at length). Tvattah (from You). Kamala-patraksha — a beautiful and intimate epithet: O Lotus-petal-eyed One. The lotus petal has a specific softness, a specific quality of clarity and purity — calling Krishna 'lotus-eyed' is to address the immeasurable softness and clarity of the divine gaze. Also: mahatmyam api avyayam — the inexhaustible (avyaya) greatness (mahatmyam) has also been heard. Avyaya = without diminishment, without end. After hearing all this (Chapter 10's catalogue of vibhutis), Arjuna is now ready for the direct experience — the visual confirmation of what has been declared.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| भवाप्ययौ | bhavapyayau | birth/arising and dissolution (bhava = becoming, apyaya = going back/dissolution) |
| विस्तरशः | vistarashah | in detail, at length, elaborately |
| कमलपत्राक्ष | kamala-patraksha | O Lotus-petal-eyed One (kamala = lotus, patra = petal, aksha = eye) |
| माहात्म्यम् | mahatmyam | greatness, the quality of great soul (maha + atman) |
| अव्ययम् | avyayam | inexhaustible, without diminishment (a + vyaya = no spending-down) |
| भव-अप्ययौ | bhava-apyayau | the origin and dissolution |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| भूतानाम् | bhūtānām | of beings |
| श्रुतौ | śrutau | have been heard |
| विस्तरशः | vistaraśaḥ | in detail, at length |
| मया | mayā | by me |
| त्वत्तः | tvattaḥ | from You |
| कमल-पत्राक्ष | kamala-patrākṣa | O lotus-eyed one |
| महात्म्यम् | mahātmyam | the glory, the greatness |
| अपि | api | also |
| च | ca | and |