FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 11.22

రుద్రాదిత్యా వసవో యే చ సాధ్యా విశ్వేఽశ్వినౌ మరుతశ్చోష్మపాశ్చ । గన్ధర్వయక్షాసురసిద్ధసఙ్ఘా వీక్షన్తే త్వాం విస్మితాశ్చైవ సర్వే ॥ ౨౨ ॥
rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā
[rudraadityaa vasavo ye cha saadhyaa]
viśve ’śvinau marutaś coṣmapāś ca
[vishve ’shvinau marutash choshmapaash cha]
gandharva-yakṣāsura-siddha-saṅghā
[gandharva-yakshaasura-siddha-sanghaa]
vīkṣante tvāṁ vismitāś caiva sarve
[veekshante tvaam vismitaash chaiva sarve]
Word-for-word
rudra — manifestations of Lord Śiva ādityāḥ — the Ādityas vasavaḥ — the Vasus ye — all those ca — and sādhyāḥ — the Sādhyas viśve — the Viśvedevas aśvinau — the Aśvinī-kumāras marutaḥ — the Maruts ca — and uṣma - pāḥ — the forefathers ca — and gandharva — of the Gandharvas yakṣa — the Yakṣas asura — the demons siddha — and the perfected demigods saṅghāḥ — the assemblies vīkṣante — are beholding tvām — You vismitāḥ — in wonder ca — also eva — certainly sarve — all .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā
rudra
manifestations of Lord Śiva
ādityāḥ
the Ādityas
vasavaḥ
the Vasus
ye
all those
ca
and
sādhyāḥ
the Sādhyas
viśve ’śvinau marutaś coṣmapāś ca
viśve
the Viśvedevas
aśvinau
the Aśvinī-kumāras
marutaḥ
the Maruts
ca
and
uṣma - pāḥ
the forefathers
gandharva-yakṣāsura-siddha-saṅghā
vīkṣante tvāṁ vismitāś caiva sarve
ca
and
gandharva
of the Gandharvas
yakṣa
the Yakṣas
asura
the demons
siddha
and the perfected demigods
saṅghāḥ
the assemblies
vīkṣante
are beholding
tvām
You
vismitāḥ
in wonder
ca
also
eva
certainly
sarve
all .
Important Words
  • rudra — the Rudras
    Eleven forms of Śiva. Their inclusion at the head of the list signals that the form Arjuna sees outranks even the destroyer-aspect of the cosmos.
  • sādhyāḥ — the Sādhyas
    A class of celestial beings associated with sacrificial perfection. Their presence indicates that even the deities of yajña are subordinate to the form.
  • gandharva — the Gandharvas
    Celestial musicians. Even music — the divine register most likely to imagine itself adequate to praise — has paused to behold.
  • asura — the demons
    Notably included. The Lord's display does not respect the asura/sura partition — both behold. Surrender will divide them later (11.36); here, wonder unites them.
  • vīkṣante — they behold
    Third-person plural present of vi-īkṣ, 'to look intently.' Not casual seeing — intent, fixed gaze. Every being on the list is locked onto the form.
  • vismitāḥ — astonished
    Past participle of vi-smi — overcome with wonder. The same emotional register Arjuna entered in 11.14; now he sees that emotion shared across the cosmos.
All the various manifestations of Lord Śiva, the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Sādhyas, the Viśvedevas, the two Aśvīs, the Maruts, the forefathers, the Gandharvas, the Yakṣas, the Asuras and the perfected demigods are beholding You in wonder.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
22. The Rudras, Ādityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Viśvas, Aśvins, Maruts, Pitṛs, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Asuras, and Siddhas all look at You in astonishment.
Commentary

Uṣma-pā refers to those who drink hot vapor of food. That refers to the Pitṛs. The śruti says ūṣmabhāgā hi pitaraḥ: the Pitṛs eat the steam. (Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa, Yajur Veda, 1.3.10.6)

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
22. The Rudras, Ādityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Viśvas, the Aśvins, Maruts, Pitṛs, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Asuras, and Siddhas all look at You in astonishment.
Commentary

This verse is clear in meaning. Uṣmapāḥ refers to the pitṛs who drink steam (uṣma). Śruti says uṣmabhāgā hi pitaraḥ: the pitṛs take the steam. (Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa, Yajur Veda, 1.3.10.6)

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

Now Arjuna describes Kala-rupa

COMMON THEME: Text 11.19 marks the beginning of description of ‘Kala-rupa’ (The form as Time) which

continues up till Text 11.31

PLEASE NOTE: All points of the purports are included as the sub-points; as such there are no individual ‘Focus of

Learning’ sections for these verses.

ARJUNA’S FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIVERSAL FORM AS ‘KALA-RUPA’.

Blazing fire coming forth from your mouth, burning this entire universe (11.19)
Numberless arms and sun and moon are the eyes
Without origin, middle and end
Repetition of glories is not a flaw – It is a sign of bewilderment, wonder or great ecstasy
Spread throughout – Spread throughout the sky and planets and all space in between; and all the planetary systems are perturbed seeing you (11.20)
‘Dyav-a-prthivyoh’ (Space between heaven and earth) and ‘Loka-trayam’ (Three worlds) –indicate that not only Arjuna saw, but other planetary systems, whoever endowed with divine vision, also saw this form and got perturbed
This proves that Arjuna’s seeing was not a dream
Petitioned by demigods – Kala-rupa is petitioned by demigods and sages – All are fearful (11.21 – 11.22)
Demigods are surrendering and praying with folded hands
Great sages are praying with Vedic hymns
Siva, Adityas, Vasus etc beholding You in wonder
Rasa changes to fear – Arjuna experiences a terrible fearsome sight (11.23)
Arjuna loses steadiness and equilibrium of mind, because mind is perturbed by fear (11.24)
Arjuna sees blazing death-like faces and awful teeth (11.25)
Link between texts 11.25 & 11.26: Text 11.26 through 11.30 describe future occurrences that Arjuna sees within the kala-rupa. In Text 11.7, Krishna said that Arjuna could see “whatever *he+ may want to see in the future.” In these texts, Arjuna sees that Bhisma, Drona and Karna – the three most feared members of the opposing army – will be destroyed.
Two Analogies: Devouring all soldiers of both armies on both sides, including Bhisma, Drona & Karna, rushing into Your mouth (11.26 – 11.27)
Analogy: As many waves of river flow into the ocean (11.28)
Analogy: As moths dash to destruction in blazing fire (11.29*)
Indicates that Arjuna could see his awaited victory
All-devouring – You are devouring all people from all sides, your effulgence is covering all the universe with terrible scorching rays(11.30)

ARJUNA’S QUESTIONS

Arjuna in great fear asks two questions (11.31)
Who are You?
What is Your mission?
Why Arjuna asks these questions – Because although Arjuna knew Krishna as his friend and Supreme Personality of Godhead, but he was puzzled by various forms exhibited by Krishna
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
11.22 Ye, those who are; the rudra-adityah, Rudras and Adityas; vasavah, the Vasus; and sadhyah, the Sadhyas-the groups of Rudras and other gods; the gods visve, Visve-devas; and asvinau, the two Asvins; marutah, the Maruts; and usmapah, the Usmapas, (a class of) manes; and gandharva-yaksa-asura-siddha-sanghah, hosts of Gandharvas-viz Haha, Huhu and others-, Yaksas-viz Kubera and others-, demons-Virocana and others-, and Siddhas-Kapila and others; sarve eva, all of those very ones; viksante, gaze; tva, (i.e.) tvam, at You; vismitah eva, being indeed struck with wonder. For,
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
11.22 Usmapa means manes, because the Sruti declares: 'Verily the manes receive the hot portions of the offerings' (Tai. Br., 1.3.10). All these, struck with amazement, behold You.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
11.22 Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
11.22 The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Visvedevas, the two Asvins, Maruts, the manes and the hosts of celestial singers, Yakshas, demons and the perfected ones, are all looking at Thee, in great amazement.
Commentary

11.22 रुद्रादित्याः Rudras and Adityas? वसवः Vasus? ये these? च and? साध्याः Sadhyas? विश्वे Visvedevas? अश्िवनौ the two Asvins? मरुतः Maruts? च and? उष्मपाः Pitris? च and? गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घाः hosts of Gandharvas? Yakshas? Asuras and Siddhas? वीक्षन्ते are looking at? त्वाम् Thee? विस्मिताः astonished? च and? एव even? सर्वे all.Commentary Sadhyas are a class of gods of whom Brahma is the chief.Visvedevas are ten gods who in Vedic times were considered as protectors of human beings. They were called guardians of the world. They were givers of plenty to the human beings. Their names are Krata? Daksha? Vasu? Satya? Kama? Kala? Dhvani? Rochaka? Adrava and Pururava.The two Asvins? born of Prabha (light)? daughter of Tushta and the Sun? are the physicians of the gods.Rudras? Adityas? Vasus and Maruts -- see tenth chapter? verses 21 and 23.Ushmapa A class of manes. They accept the food offered in the Sraaddha (anniversary) ceremony or the obseies? while it is hot. Hence they are called Ushmapas. There are seven groups of manes.Gandharvas are celestial singers such as Haha and Huhu.Yakshas such as Kubera (the god of wealth) Asuras such as Virochana perfected ones such as Kapila.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
11.22 Those who are the Rudras, the Adityas, the Vasus and the Sadhyas [sadhyas: A particular class of celestial beings.-V.S.A.], the Visve (-devas), the two Asvins, the Maruts and the Usmapas, and hosts of Gandharvas, Yaksas, demons and Siddhas-all of those very ones gaze at You, being indeed struck with wonder.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
11.22 The Vital Forces, the Major stars, Fire, Earth, Air, Sky, Sun, Heaven, Moon and Planets; the Angels, the Guardians of the Universe, the divine Healers, the Winds, the Fathers, the Heavenly Singers; and hosts of Mammon-worshippers, demons as well as saints, are amazed.
Related values & verses
Related values
Prema (Divine Love)Bhakti (Devotion)
Related verses
BG 11.6 BG 11.15 BG 10.21 SB 4.7.49 SB 8.12.13 SB 2.3.2-7 CC Madhya 20.280 CC Madhya 21.31 CC Ādi 5.49 Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 3.9.1Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 4.11
Concepts
Rasa
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Rudras, Ādityas, Vasus, Sādhyas, Maruts, ancestors — all are awestruck, beholding You.
Practical Applications
  • Recognize the universal awe; you are not alone in being humbled.
  • Use this verse during personal humbling moments.
  • Don't perform false composure when awe is appropriate.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have I performed composure instead of feeling awe?
  • What honest awe is being asked?
Analogy

Imagine an opera in which the entire orchestra, every chorus, every soloist has gone silent and is staring at the stage. That is the moment of 11.22 — every category of celestial being, even the asuras, has stopped its function to behold one form.

Stories
The Reverence of Even the Asuras

When Lord Nṛsiṁha appeared from the pillar (SB 7.8), even the demons who served Hiraṇyakaśipu fell silent, struck with wonder. Their hostility did not dissolve — Hiraṇyakaśipu still rushed at the Lord — but the spectacle itself momentarily suspended the categories.

Arjuna's catalogue in 11.22 includes asura-siddha-saṅghāḥ alongside the devas and sages. Even the demons are vīkṣante vismitāḥ — beholding in wonder. The viśva-rūpa silences hostility long enough to be seen.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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