Bhagavad Gita BG 11.45
Chapter 11, Verse 45 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अदृष्टपूर्वं हृषितोऽस्मि दृष्ट्वा भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनो मे । तदेव मे दर्शय देवरूपं प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥
adrstapurvam hrsito 'smi drshtvA bhayena ca pravyathitam mano me tad eva me darshaya deva-rupam prasida devEsha jagan-nivasa
Meaning
I am thrilled at having seen what was never seen before, and yet my mind is shaken with terror. Show me that divine form of yours, O Lord of lords, O Abode of the universe — be gracious!
Understanding
The double state of the Vishvarupa vision: Hrsita (thrilled, exhilarated) at seeing the unprecedented (adrstapurvam — never seen before). AND: bhayena pravyathitam mano me (my mind is shaken/distressed with fear). Both simultaneously: wonder and terror, joy and fear. This is the classic experience of the 'numinous' — the mysterium tremendum et fascinans (the tremendous and fascinating mystery). Arjuna then asks for the deva-rupam (the gentle divine form) — the four-armed or two-armed form he knows. Prasida (be gracious). Devesa (Lord of lords). Jagan-nivasa (Abode of the universe).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अदृष्टपूर्वम् | adrstapurvam | never seen before, unprecedented |
| हृषितः | hrsitah | thrilled, exhilarated, delighted |
| प्रव्यथितम् | pravyathitam | shaken, distressed, agitated |
| देवरूपम् | deva-rupam | the divine form (the gentle/beautiful form) |
| जगन्निवास | jagan-nivasa | O Abode of the universe (address to Krishna) |
| अदृष्ट-पूर्वम् | adṛṣṭa-pūrvam | never seen before |
| हृषितः | hṛṣitaḥ | thrilled, delighted |
| अस्मि | asmi | I am |
| दृष्ट्वा | dṛṣṭvā | having seen |
| भयेन | bhayena | with fear |
| च | ca | and |
| मनः | manaḥ | the mind |
| मे | me | my |
| तत् | tat | that |
| एव | eva | alone |
| मे | me | to me |
| दर्शय | darśaya | show |
| देव-रूपम् | deva-rūpam | Your divine form |
| प्रसीद | prasīda | be gracious |
| देवेश | deveśa | O lord of gods |
| जगन्-निवास | jagan-nivāsa | O abode of the universe |