FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 11.47

श्रीभगवानुवाच मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात् । तेजोमयं विश्वमनन्तमाद्यं यन्मे त्वदन्येन न दृष्टपूर्वम् ॥ ४७ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
[shree-bhagavaan uvaacha]
mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṁ
[mayaa prasannena tavaarjunedam]
rūpaṁ paraṁ darśitam ātma-yogāt
[roopam param darshitam aatma-yogaat]
tejo-mayaṁ viśvam anantam ādyaṁ
[tejo-mayam vishvam anantam aadyam]
yan me tvad anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam
[yan me tvad anyena na drishta-poorvam]
Word-for-word
śrī - bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said mayā — by Me prasannena — happily tava — unto you arjuna — O Arjuna idam — this rūpam — form param — transcendental darśitam — shown ātma - yogāt — by My internal potency tejaḥ - mayam — full of effulgence viśvam — the entire universe anantam — unlimited ādyam — original yat — that which me — My tvat anyena — besides you na dṛṣṭa - pūrvam — no one has previously seen .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
śrī - bhagavān uvāca
the Supreme Personality of Godhead said
mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṁ
mayā
by Me
prasannena
happily
tava
unto you
arjuna
O Arjuna
idam
this
rūpaṁ paraṁ darśitam ātma-yogāt
rūpam
form
param
transcendental
darśitam
shown
ātma - yogāt
by My internal potency
tejo-mayaṁ viśvam anantam ādyaṁ
tejaḥ - mayam
full of effulgence
viśvam
the entire universe
anantam
unlimited
ādyam
original
yan me tvad anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam
yat
that which
me
My
tvat anyena
besides you
na dṛṣṭa - pūrvam
no one has previously seen .
Important Words
  • prasannena — (by Me) being pleased
    Instrumental of prasanna — 'pleased.' Kṛṣṇa names the precondition: the showing is by Kṛṣṇa-when-pleased, not by Kṛṣṇa-as-mechanism. Devotional access is governed by the Lord's pleasure.
  • darśitam — shown
    Past participle of dṛś (causative) — 'caused to be seen.' The verb of bestowed vision. Arjuna did not achieve the seeing; Kṛṣṇa enacted the showing.
  • ātma - yogāt — by My own internal energy
    Ablative compound: ātma (self) + yoga (mystic power). The Lord's internal yoga, not external — yoga-māyā, the same potency that hides Kṛṣṇa from non-devotees in Vraja. The chapter's epistemic claim: only the internal energy can reveal the highest forms.
  • tejaḥ - mayam — made of effulgence
    Compound: tejas (radiance) + maya (consisting of). The form's substance is radiance, not flesh. Re-emphasises 11.12 and 11.17.
  • ādyam — primal
    Accusative of ādya. The same word Arjuna used in 11.31 — 'the primal.' Now Kṛṣṇa accepts the title for the form He has shown.
  • na dṛṣṭa - pūrvam — never before seen
    Compound: na (not) + dṛṣṭa (seen) + pūrva (before). Arjuna's privilege is unique. The grammar of singularity is preserved by negation.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, happily have I shown you, by My internal potency, this supreme universal form within the material world. No one before you has ever seen this primal form, unlimited and full of glaring effulgence.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Kṛṣṇa concedes the request but first underscores the uniqueness of what He has given. The viśvarūpa was not granted because of Arjuna's qualifications but because of Kṛṣṇa's prasāda — and no one before Arjuna had received it. The gift is acknowledged before it is rolled back.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
'Mayā prasannena' is the doctrinal point: revelation is from prasāda, not earned by tapas (next verse). 'Tvad-anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam' elevates Arjuna's privilege above all prior visions in scripture — even the ṛṣis listed in ch. 10. Reread alongside Sañjaya (11.9), who also sees it by Vyāsa's grace; the privilege is grace-mediated.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
हे अर्जुन! प्रसन्नेन मया आत्म-योगात् इदं परं तेजः-मयम् अनन्तम् आद्यं विश्वं रूपं तव दर्शितम्; यत् मे (रूपं) त्वत्-अन्येन न दृष्ट-पूर्वम् ।
he arjuna! prasannena mayā ātma-yogāt idaṃ paraṃ tejaḥ-mayam anantam ādyaṃ viśvaṃ rūpaṃ tava darśitam; yat me (rūpaṃ) tvat-anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam |
O Arjuna, being well-pleased, I have shown you, by My own yoga, this supreme form — luminous, universal, infinite, primal — which form of Mine has never before been seen by anyone other than you.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
श्री-भगवान् उवाच
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
मया प्रसन्नेन तव अर्जुन इदं रूपं परं दर्शितम् आत्म-योगात् । तेजः-मयं विश्वम् अनन्तम् आद्यं यत् मे त्वत्-अन्येन न दृष्ट-पूर्वम् ॥
mayā prasannena tava arjuna idaṃ rūpaṃ paraṃ darśitam ātma-yogāt | tejaḥ-mayaṃ viśvam anantam ādyaṃ yat me tvat-anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
मया mayā अस्मद् (pron. (pronoun)) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by Me
प्रसन्नेन prasannena प्र + √सद् p.p.p. (past passive participle) ins.sg. (instrumental singular)m. by (one) well-pleased
तव tava युष्मद् (pron. (pronoun)) gen.sg. (genitive singular) your, for you
अर्जुन arjuna अर्जुन (m.) voc.sg. (vocative singular) O Arjuna
इदम् idam इदम् (dem. (demonstrative) pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. this
रूपम् rūpam रूप (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) form
परम् param पर (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. supreme
दर्शितम् darśitam √दृश् caus. (causative) p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. (was) shown
आत्म-योगात् ātma-yogāt आत्मन् (m.) + योग (m.) abl.sg. (ablative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) by (My) own yoga
तेजः-मयम् tejaḥ-mayam तेजस् (n.) + मय (taddhita affix) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. consisting of brilliance
विश्वम् viśvam विश्व (adj./n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) universal
अनन्तम् anantam अनन्त (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. infinite
आद्यम् ādyam आद्य (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. primal
यत् yat rel. pron. (pronoun) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. which
मे me अस्मद् (pron. (pronoun)) gen.sg. (genitive singular) My
त्वत्-अन्येन tvat-anyena त्वत् (pron. (pronoun)) + अन्य (adj.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular)m., tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) by another than you
न na ind. (indeclinable), neg. not
दृष्ट-पूर्वम् dṛṣṭa-pūrvam दृष्ट (p.p.p. (past passive participle)) + पूर्व (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n., bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) seen before
Purport

Arjuna wanted to see the universal form of the Supreme Lord, so Lord Kṛṣṇa, out of His mercy upon His devotee Arjuna, showed His universal form, full of effulgence and opulence. This form was glaring like the sun, and its many faces were rapidly changing. Kṛṣṇa showed this form just to satisfy the desire of His friend Arjuna. This form was manifested by Kṛṣṇa through His internal potency, which is inconceivable by human speculation. No one had seen this universal form of the Lord before Arjuna, but because the form was shown to Arjuna, other devotees in the heavenly planets and in other planets in outer space could also see it. They had not seen it before, but because of Arjuna they were also able to see it. In other words, all the disciplic devotees of the Lord could see the universal form which was shown to Arjuna by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. Someone has commented that this form was shown to Duryodhana also when Kṛṣṇa went to Duryodhana to negotiate for peace. Unfortunately, Duryodhana did not accept the peace offer, but at that time Kṛṣṇa manifested some of His universal forms. But those forms are different from this one shown to Arjuna. It is clearly said that no one had ever seen this form before.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
47. The Lord said: Being pleased with You, I have shown this supreme, brilliant, infinite, original form of the universe, which has not ever been seen by any except you, by My own yoga-māyā.
Commentary

“O Arjuna, you have said that you desired to see My majestic form (verse 3) and by your request, I have shown the form of the universe which is one of My parts. Why has your mind become disturbed on seeing it? Is it not astonishing that you plead with Me, wanting now to see My human form?” Thus the Lord speaks this verse. Being pleased with you, I have shown this form to you (tava) alone, and not to anyone else, since it has not been seen previously by anyone. In spite of that, do you not want to see that form?

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
47. The Lord said: Being pleased with you, I have shown this supreme, brilliant, infinite, original universal form, which has never been seen by anyone accept you, by My own yoga māyā.
Commentary

Requested in this way, the Lord spoke. O Arjuna! You requested to see this form. Being pleased with you, by My own inconceivable powers (ātma yogāt) I have shown this brilliant form of supreme power, which is situated within Me, your object of love, who am like an actor, or the vaidūrya stone, capable of showing many forms and colors. This form of Mine has not previously been seen by anyone except you. Now however, but not being the main objects of mercy, the devas and others, also have seen this form. I have shown this form which can be seen by devotion to you because you are My devotee. And I have shown it to the devas and others who also are devotional, in order that there be many witnesses to what I have shown you. The universal form that Duryodhana and others saw at Hastināpura was not of this type. [Note: When Kṛṣṇa attempted to persuade Duryodhana from war, Duryodhana tried to capture Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa at that time showed his universal form.] This has not been seen till now by anyone except you.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Krishna says “I have shown you this Universal form which no-one else has ever seen before”

By ‘My’ internal potency
Happily by ‘My’ desire
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
11.47 Prasannena, out of grace-grace means the intention of favouring you; O Arjuna, idam, this; param, supreme; tejomayam, abundantly radiant; visvam, Cosmic, all-comprehensive; anantam, infinite, limitless; adyam, primeval-that which existed in the beginning; rupam, form, the Cosmic form; yat which form; me, of Mine; na drsta-purvam, has not been seen before; tvat-anyena, by anyone other than you; daristam, has been shown; tava, to you; maya, by Me-who am racious, being possessed of that (intention of favouring you); atma-yogat, through the power of My own Yoga, through the power of My own Godhood. 'You have certainly got all your ends accomplished by the vision of the form of Mine who am the Self [The word atmanah (who am the Self) does not occur in some editions.-Tr.] .' Saying so, He eulogizes that (vision):
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
11.47 The Lord said The 'luminous' form of Mine is a mass of luminosity. It is 'universal' i.e., constitutes the Self of the universe. It is 'infinite', endless. This is illustrated by describing it as having no beginning, middle or end. It is 'primeval,' namely, it constitutes the foundation of all beings other than Myself. It has nevr been seen before by any one other than you. Such a form is now revealed to you, who are My devotee, by Me who am gracious, by My own Yoga, namely, by the power of willing the truth associated with Me. Sri Krsna proceeds to say, 'It is not possible that I can be realised as I am, through any means except exclusive Bhakti.'
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
11.47 Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
11.47 The Blessed Lord said O Arjuna, this Cosmic Form has graciously been shown to thee by Me by My own Yogic power; full of splendour, primeval, and infinite, this Cosmic Form of Mine has never been seen before by anyone other than thyself.
Commentary

11.47 मया by Me? प्रसन्नेन gracious? तव to thee? अर्जुन O Arjuna? इदम् this? रूपम् form? परम् supreme? दर्शितम् has been shown? आत्मयोगात् by My own Yogic power? तेजोमयम् full of splendour? विश्वम् universal? अनन्तम् endless? आद्यम् primeval? यत् which? मे of Me? त्वत् from thee? अन्येन by another? न not? दृष्टपूर्वम् seen before.Commentary Lord Krishna eulogises the Cosmic Form because Arjuna should be regarded to have achieved all his ends by seeing this Cosmic Form.It is also an inducement to all spiritual aspirants to strive to attain this sublime vision. What they should do is explained by the Lord in verse 53 to 55.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
11.47 The Blessed Lord said Out of grace, O Arjuna, this supreme, radiant, Cosmic, infinite, primeval form-which (form) of Mine has not been seen before by anyone other than you, has been shown to you by Me through the power of My own Yoga.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
11.47 Lord Shri Krishna replied: My beloved friend! It is only through My grace and power that thou hast been able to see this vision of splendour, the Universal, the Infinite, the Original. Never has it been seen by any but thee.
Related values & verses
Related values
Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 11.9 BG 11.48 BG 9.1 SB 3.2.12 SB 10.14.26 SB 11.29.7 CC Madhya 20.352 CC Madhya 8.308 CC Antya 5.71 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.23Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 3.20
Concepts
Maya
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
I, satisfied with you, have shown you by My internal energy this universal form — never seen before by any other.
Practical Applications
  • Recognize personal vision as Kṛṣṇa's specific gift.
  • Treat your own glimpses as gifts, not productions.
  • Don't envy others' visions; receive your own.
Reflection Questions
  • What glimpse have I received that I treat as ordinary?
  • What does treating it as gift change?
Analogy

A king opens the royal vault for one trusted minister at one trusted hour — not because the vault is small but because the showing is precise. Kṛṣṇa says: I showed you what no one before you has been shown, and I showed it as a kindness, by My own internal energy, not by some impersonal cosmic display.

Stories
The Privilege of Devotee-Seeing

In the Bhāgavatam (SB 10.14.34–35), Brahmā prays that even the demigods cannot see the form Kṛṣṇa shows to His devotees in Vraja — the realm of internal energy (yoga-māyā) is closed to those who approach through external means.

Kṛṣṇa's words to Arjuna in 11.47 — mayā prasannena... ātma-yogāt — establish the same principle: this form was shown by Kṛṣṇa's own internal yoga, as a favour to one whose surrender qualified him to receive it. The seeing is not a feat of Arjuna's; it is a gift, conditional on the giver's pleasure.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 11