Bhagavad Gita BG 11.52
Chapter 11, Verse 52 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
श्रीभगवानुवाच सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम । देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥
shri bhagavan uvaca su-durdarsham idam rupam drshtavan asi yan mama deva apy asya rupasya nityam darshana-kankshInah
Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: This form of Mine which you have seen is very difficult to behold. Even the gods ever long to see this form.
Understanding
Krishna's final words on the significance of the Vishvarupa. Su-durdarsham (very difficult to see — su + dur + darsha: very + difficult + seeing). Idam rupam drshtavan asi yan mama (this form of Mine which you have seen). Devah api asya rupasya (even the gods — of this form). Nityam darshana-kankshInah (ever longing to see — darshana: auspicious seeing, kankshi: desiring, longing). Even the cosmic gods — who occupy a far higher station than ordinary humans — eternally long (nityam) for the vision that Arjuna has just received. The verse establishes the extraordinary rarity and grace of what Arjuna has experienced. The Vishvarupa is not given even to the gods; it was given to this particular devotee, on this battlefield, through Krishna's own grace.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सुदुर्दर्शम् | su-durdarsham | very difficult to behold (su + dur + darsha = very hard to see) |
| दृष्टवान् | drshtavan | one who has seen (past participle — 'you have seen') |
| देवाः | devah | the gods, the divine beings |
| दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः | darshana-kankshInah | longing for the darshana/vision (desiring to see) |
| नित्यम् | nityam | ever, eternally, always |
| श्री भगवान् उवाच | śrī bhagavān uvāca | the blessed Lord said |
| सु-दुर्दर्शम् | su-durdaṛśam | very difficult to see |
| इदम् | idam | this |
| रूपम् | rūpam | form |
| दृष्टवान् | dṛṣṭavān | you have seen |
| असि | asi | you are |
| यत् | yat | which |
| मम | mama | My |
| देवाः | devāḥ | even the gods |
| अपि | api | even |
| अस्य | asya | of this |
| रूपस्य | rūpasya | form |
| दर्शन-काङ्क्षिणः | darśana-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ | yearn to see |