Bhagavad Gita BG 11.48
Chapter 11, Verse 48 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानैः न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः । एवंरूपः शक्य अहं नृलोके द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर ॥
na veda-yajna-adhyayanair na danaih na ca kriyabhir na tapobhir ugraih evam rupah shakya aham nrl-oke drashtum tvad anyena kuru-pravira
Meaning
Not through the Vedas, nor through sacrifice, nor through study, nor through charity, nor through ritual actions, nor through fierce austerities can I be seen in such a form in the world of men by anyone other than you, O Best of the Kurus.
Understanding
A comprehensive list of what cannot produce the vision. Na veda-yajna-adhyayanaih (not through Vedas, sacrifice, and Vedic study). Na danaih (not through charitable giving). Na ca kriyabhih (not through ritual actions — karma-kanda). Na tapobhih ugraih (not through fierce austerities). All the traditional means of spiritual attainment are named and negated: scripture, ritual, study, charity, action, tapas — none of these can produce the Vishvarupa vision. Evam rupah shakya aham nrl-oke drashtum tvad anyena (such a form am I able to be seen in the world of men by anyone other than you). Kuru-pravira (O Best/Hero of the Kurus — Arjuna). The vision transcends all conventional spiritual means; it belongs to the domain of grace alone.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अध्ययनैः | adhyayanaih | through study, through scriptural learning |
| दानैः | danaih | through charitable giving/gifts |
| क्रियाभिः | kriyabhih | through ritual actions, through rites |
| उग्रैः | ugraih | fierce, intense, severe |
| नृलोके | nrl-oke | in the world of men, in the human realm |
| न | na | not |
| वेद-यज्ञ-अध्ययनैः | veda-yajña-adhyayanaiḥ | by study of the Vedas and sacrifice |
| न | na | nor |
| दानैः | dānaiḥ | by charity |
| न | na | nor |
| च | ca | and |
| क्रियाभिः | kriyābhiḥ | by rituals |
| न | na | nor |
| तपोभिः | tapobhiḥ | by austerities |
| उग्रैः | ugraiḥ | severe, harsh |
| एवम् | evam | in this way |
| रूपः | rūpaḥ | form |
| शक्यः | śakyaḥ | possible |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| नृ-लोके | nṛ-loke | in the world of men |
| द्रष्टुम् | draṣṭum | to be seen |
| त्वत् | tvat | than you |
| अन्येन | anyena | by another |
| कुरु-प्रवीर | kuru-pravīra | O hero of the Kurus |