Bhagavad Gita BG 11.24
Chapter 11, Verse 24 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् । दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो ॥
nabhah-sprsham diptam aneka-varnam vyattananam dipta-vishala-netram drishtvaa hi tvam pravyathitantratma dhrtim na vindami shamam ca vishno
Meaning
Seeing You touching the sky (nabhah-sprsha), blazing (dipta), many-colored (aneka-varna), with gaping mouths (vyattanana) and wide blazing eyes (dipta-vishala-netra) — my inner self (antar-atma) is troubled (pravyathita), and I find (vindami) no steadiness (dhrti) or peace (shama), O Vishnu.
Understanding
The inner impact of the external vision: nabhah-sprsham (touching the sky, reaching to the heavens — the immeasurable height of the form) diptam (blazing, aflame) aneka-varnam (many-colored — every color, the spectrum of all possibilities) vyatta-ananam (with gaping mouths — open for consuming, the destroyer's open maw) dipta-vishala-netram (with wide blazing eyes — the all-seeing, all-penetrating gaze). Drishtvaa hi tvam (having seen You, truly seeing You) — pravyathita antar-atma (my inner self, my antaratman, is deeply troubled/shaking). The exterior vision creates the interior disturbance. Dhrtim na vindami shamam ca (I find no dhrti — no steadiness, fortitude — and no shama — no peace, calmness). Vishno — O Vishnu (the all-pervading one).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नभःस्पृशम् | nabhah-sprsham | touching the sky, reaching to the heavens (nabhas = sky, sprsha = touching) |
| व्यात्ताननम् | vyattananam | with gaping/wide-open mouths (vy + atta + anana = widely opened mouths) |
| दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् | dipta-vishala-netram | with wide (vishala) blazing (dipta) eyes (netra) |
| प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा | pravyathita-antar-atma | my inner self (antar-atma) is deeply troubled/shaking (pravyathita) |
| धृतिम् | dhrtim | steadiness, fortitude, the capacity to hold oneself steady |
| शमम् | shamam | peace, calmness, tranquility of mind |
| विष्णो | vishno | O Vishnu — the all-pervading one (vi + shnu = pervades everywhere) |
| नभः-स्पृशम् | nabhaḥ-spṛśam | touching the sky |
| दीप्तम् | dīptam | blazing, effulgent |
| अनेक-वर्णम् | aneka-varṇam | of many colors |
| व्यात्त-आननम् | vyātta-ānanam | with gaping mouths |
| दीप्त-विशाल-नेत्रम् | dīpta-viśāla-netram | with blazing, wide eyes |
| दृष्ट्वा | dṛṣṭvā | having seen |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| त्वाम् | tvām | You |
| प्रव्यथित-अन्तरात्मा | pravyathita-antarātmā | my inner self trembling |
| धृतिम् | dhṛtim | steadiness, fortitude |
| न | na | not |
| विन्दामि | vindāmi | I find |
| शमम् | śamam | peace of mind |
| च | ca | and |
| विष्णो | viṣṇo | O Vishnu |