Bhagavad Gita BG 11.31
Chapter 11, Verse 31 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
आख्याहि मे को भवान् उग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद । विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम् ॥
akhyahi me ko bhavan ugra-rupo namo 'stu te deva-vara prasida vijnatuh-iccami bhavantam adyam na hi prajanami tava pravrttim
Meaning
Tell me who you are in this terrible form! Salutations to you, O best of gods — be gracious! I wish to know you, the Primordial One. I do not comprehend your purpose/working.
Understanding
Arjuna's terrified question from within the vision. Ko bhavan ugra-rupo (who are you in this terrible form?). Namo 'stu te deva-vara (salutations, O best of gods). Prasida (be gracious — the word of a terrified suppliant). Vijnatuh-icchami bhavantam adyam (I wish to know you, the Primordial). Na hi prajanami tava pravrttim (I do not understand/comprehend your working/purpose). The honest confession: after all the teaching, the direct vision of the terrifying Vishvarupa has produced not comprehension but awe and incomprehension. 'I do not understand your purpose.'
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| आख्याहि | akhyahi | tell me, declare, explain |
| उग्ररूप | ugra-rupa | of terrible/fierce form |
| प्रसीद | prasida | be gracious, be pleased, show mercy |
| विज्ञातुम् | vijnatuh | to know/understand fully (vi + jnatum) |
| प्रवृत्तिम् | pravrttim | working, purpose, action, movement |
| आख्याहि | ākhyāhi | please tell, inform me |
| मे | me | to me |
| कः | kaḥ | who |
| भवान् | bhavān | You |
| उग्र-रूपः | ugra-rūpaḥ | of fierce form |
| नमः | namaḥ | obeisances |
| अस्तु | astu | let there be |
| ते | te | to You |
| देव-वर | deva-vara | O best of gods |
| प्रसीद | prasīda | be gracious, be pleased |
| विज्ञातुम् | vijñātum | to know, to understand |
| इच्छामि | icchāmi | I desire |
| भवन्तम् | bhavantam | You |
| आद्यम् | ādyam | the primeval, the original |
| न | na | not |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| प्रजानामि | prajānāmi | I know |
| तव | tava | Your |
| प्रवृत्तिम् | pravṛttim | activity, purpose |