Bhagavad Gita BG 11.8
Chapter 11, Verse 8 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा । दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ॥
na tu mam shakyase drashtum anenaiva sva-chakshusa divyam dadami te chakshu pashya me yogam aishvaram
Meaning
But you cannot see Me with this, your own eye. I give you a divine eye (divyam cakshu). Behold My divine Yoga!
Understanding
The critical declaration before the vision: na tu mam shakyase drashtum anena sva-chakshusa (you cannot see Me with this ordinary eye of yours). The Vishvarupa cannot be perceived by physical senses. Divyam dadami te chakshu (I give you a divine eye) — the vision is given as divine grace. One cannot earn or force the direct vision of the Divine; it is a gift. Pashya me yogam aishvaram (behold My divine Yoga — my divine power/manifestation). The technical term: yogam aishvaram — the divine yoga-power that creates and sustains the Vishvarupa.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| स्वचक्षुषा | sva-chakshusa | with your own (ordinary) eye |
| दिव्यम् | divyam | divine, heavenly, supernatural |
| ददामि | dadami | I give (present tense — the act of giving) |
| चक्षुः | chakshuh | eye, sight |
| योगमैश्वरम् | yogam aishvaram | the divine Yoga (the cosmic power/manifestation) |
| न | na | not |
| तु | tu | but |
| माम् | mām | Me |
| शक्यसे | śakyase | you are able |
| द्रष्टुम् | draṣṭum | to see |
| अनेन | anena | by this |
| एव | eva | alone |
| स्व-चक्षुषा | sva-cakṣuṣā | with your own eyes |
| ददामि | dadāmi | I give |
| ते | te | to you |
| चक्षुः | cakṣuḥ | eye, vision |
| पश्य | paśya | behold |
| मे | me | My |
| योगम् | yogam | mystic power |
| ऐश्वरम् | aiśvaram | divine, sovereign |