Bhagavad Gita BG 11.3
Chapter 11, Verse 3 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर । द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ॥
evam etad yathattha tvam atmanam parameshvara drashtum icchami te rupam aishvaram purushottama
Meaning
Even so, O Supreme Lord (Parameshvara), it is as you have described Yourself. I wish to see your Divine Form, O Purushottama (Supreme Person).
Understanding
Arjuna accepts what he has been taught intellectually but wishes to see directly — drashtum icchami (I wish to see). He addresses Krishna as Parameshvara (Supreme Lord) and Purushottama (Supreme Person). This is the pivotal request: from hearing to seeing. Shruti (hearing) is the foundation; darshana (seeing/vision) is the fulfillment. The entire Ch11 is Arjuna's movement from shruti to darshana — from intellectual knowledge to direct vision.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| यथात्थ | yathattha | as you have said, just as you declared |
| परमेश्वर | parameshvara | Supreme Lord |
| द्रष्टुम् | drashtum | to see, to behold, for seeing |
| ऐश्वरम् | aishvaram | divine, relating to Ishvara, the lordly |
| पुरुषोत्तम | purushottama | Supreme Person, the Highest Purusha |
| एवम् | evam | thus, just as |
| एतत् | etat | this |
| यथात्थ | yathāttha | just as You have said |
| त्वम् | tvam | You |
| आत्मानम् | ātmānam | Yourself |
| परमेश्वर | parameśvara | O Supreme Lord |
| द्रष्टुम् | draṣṭum | to see |
| इच्छामि | icchāmi | I wish, I desire |
| ते | te | Your |
| रूपम् | rūpam | form |
| ऐश्वरम् | aiśvaram | divine, sovereign |
| पुरुषोत्तम | puruṣottama | O Supreme Person |