FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 11.3

ఏవమేతద్యథాత్థ త్వమాత్మానం పరమేశ్వర । ద్రష్టుమిచ్ఛామి తే రూపమైశ్వరం పురుషోత్తమ ॥ ౩ ॥
evam etad yathāttha tvam
[evam etad yathaattha tvam]
ātmānaṁ parameśvara
[aatmaanam parameshvara]
draṣṭum icchāmi te rūpam
[drashtum ichchaami te roopam]
aiśvaraṁ puruṣottama
[aishvaram purushottama]
Word-for-word
evam — thus etat — this yathā — as it is āttha — have spoken tvam — You ātmānam — Yourself parama - īśvara — O Supreme Lord draṣṭum — to see icchāmi — I wish te — Your rūpam — form aiśvaram — divine puruṣa - uttama — O best of personalities .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
evam etad yathāttha tvam
evam
thus
etat
this
yathā
as it is
āttha
have spoken
tvam
You
ātmānaṁ parameśvara
ātmānam
Yourself
parama - īśvara
O Supreme Lord
draṣṭum icchāmi te rūpam
draṣṭum
to see
icchāmi
I wish
te
Your
rūpam
form
aiśvaraṁ puruṣottama
aiśvaram
divine
puruṣa - uttama
O best of personalities .
Important Words
  • parama - īśvara — O Supreme Lord
    Arjuna is no longer addressing Kṛṣṇa as friend (he will repent that in 11.41–42). The vocative shifts to parama-īśvara because the request itself is one only the Supreme Lord can fulfil.
  • draṣṭum — to see
    Infinitive of dṛś. The shift from śru (to hear) in verse 2 to dṛś here is the verse's whole movement — from auditory faith to ocular confirmation.
  • icchāmi — I wish
    Arjuna voices the wish openly; he does not pretend he is content with hearing. Honest desire toward the Lord is itself a grace — sterile contentment with description is not.
  • rūpam — form
    The chapter's key word. Across BG 11 rūpam will mean the universal form, the four-armed form, and finally the gentle two-armed form. The whole chapter is an inquiry into which rūpa is highest.
  • aiśvaram — opulent
    From īśvara — that which belongs to the Lord as Lord. Arjuna asks specifically for the lordly form, not the intimate one; later (11.45) he will ask for the reverse.
  • puruṣa - uttama — O greatest of all personalities
    Anticipates BG 15.18, where Kṛṣṇa Himself uses this title. Arjuna's intuition is already correct: the form he is about to see is uttama — beyond both kṣara and akṣara.
O greatest of all personalities, O supreme form, though I see You here before me in Your actual position, as You have described Yourself, I wish to see how You have entered into this cosmic manifestation. I want to see that form of Yours.
Purport

The Lord said that because He entered into the material universe by His personal representation, the cosmic manifestation has been made possible and is going on. Now as far as Arjuna is concerned, he is inspired by the statements of Kṛṣṇa, but in order to convince others in the future who may think that Kṛṣṇa is an ordinary person, Arjuna desires to see Him actually in His universal form, to see how He is acting from within the universe, although He is apart from it. Arjuna’s addressing the Lord as puruṣottama is also significant. Since the Lord is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is present within Arjuna himself; therefore He knows the desire of Arjuna, and He can understand that Arjuna has no special desire to see Him in His universal form, for Arjuna is completely satisfied to see Him in His personal form of Kṛṣṇa. But the Lord can understand also that Arjuna wants to see the universal form to convince others. Arjuna did not have any personal desire for confirmation. Kṛṣṇa also understands that Arjuna wants to see the universal form to set a criterion, for in the future there would be so many imposters who would pose themselves as incarnations of God. The people, therefore, should be careful; one who claims to be Kṛṣṇa should be prepared to show his universal form to confirm his claim to the people.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
3. O Supreme Lord, what You have spoken about Yourself is all true. O Supreme Person, I desire to see that powerful form of Yours.
Commentary

Whatever You have said about Yourself, such as “I am supporting the whole universe by one of My portions,” is indeed true (evam etad). I do not have any doubt about it. But still, desiring to be fully satisfied, I desire to see that form displaying Your powers. I now want to see, with my eyes, that expansion form of Yours by which You support this world.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
3. O Supreme Lord, what You have spoken about Yourself is all true. O Supreme Person, I desire to see that powerful form of Yours.
Commentary

What You have spoken (āttha) about Yourself (ātmānam) is true, in such verses as viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ. I do not have any doubt at all about it. However, I desire to see, out of curiosity, that form expressing Your power, showing You as the controller of all. O Supreme Lord! O Supreme Person! Since You are supreme, You certainly must know that I desire to see this, and You should fulfill this desire. I naturally relish Your sweetness, and am experiencing Your sweetness. But because You now desire to assume a sharp taste, I have now manifested a desire to experience Your majesty and power.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

Krsna has already explained in Chapter Ten, that there is no way of understanding Krsna's actual position unless on hears from Him. Arjuna has heard of Krsna's 'asesa', unending glories. He only heard about a little of them. They were described 82 different opulences of Krsna in the previous chapter. But Krsna doesn't have only 82 opulences ‑ His opulences are unlimited (asesa). Arjuna only heard about Krsna's opulences a little bit and now he wants to see that form of unlimited opulences. He has become restless to see because he has already heard. In this verse Krsna is called by Arjuna as 'Paramesvara' and 'Purusottama'. Purusuttama means 'best of personalities' and Paramesvara means 'Supreme Lord'. Arjuna is saying: "You are both, the best of personalities and the Supreme Lord, so You know why I am asking You to show me this universal form, although I am Your devotee." And why? Why is Arjuna asking this? Srila Prabhupada answers to this question in his Purport: "But the Lord can understand also that Arjuna wants to see the universal form to convince others. Arjuna did not have any personal desire for confirmation. Krsna also understands that Arjuna wants to see the universal form to set a criterion, for in the future there would be so many imposters who would pose themselves as incarnations of God. The people, therefore, should be careful; one who claims to be Krsna should be prepared to show his universal form to confirm his claim to the people." To set this criteria that if one is claiming to be God, he has to be ready to shou the universal form. Therefore,

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

Arjuna expresses his desire to see – Arjuna has heard that Krishna, who stands before him on the

chariot, supports and pervades the entire universe (Bg. 10.42); and thus Arjuna expresses his desire to see that

form

Focus of Learning

(a) Addresses Krishna as ‘lotus-eyed’ – Out of joy ; after being assured by Krishna that:

He is the source of all creation, maintenance and destruction (As explained in Bg. 7.6 – 7.7)
‘’He is still aloof’’ (Inconceivable opulence as explained in Bg. 9.4 – 9.5)

(a) Effect of hearing ‘’most confidential knowledge’’ – all illusion is dispelled

Power of Krishna’s grace – Arjuna recognizes Krishna’s grace by which the illusion is dispelled
What illusion is dispelled – ‘’that Krishna is an ordinary friend or a human being’’
One should know that Krishna is the source of everything and in everyone’s heart as Supersoul
Krishna’s supremacy over all – Chapter 11 reveals Krishna as the cause of all causes: cause of material nature, cause of all living entities, all demigods, even cause of Maha-Vishnu and all incarnations

(b) Why Arjuna requests Krishna to show His Universal Form (Refer to Text 11.3 ‘Focus of Learning’)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SECTION I

One understands the Lord’s nature through the mercy of the Lord.

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
11.3 Parama-isvara, O supreme Lord; evam, so; etat, it is-not otherwise; yatha, as; tvam, You; attha, speak; atmanam, about Yourself. Still, purusottama, O supreme Person; iccahmi, I wish; drastum, to see; the aisvaram, divine; rupam, form; te, of Yours, of Visnu, endowed with Knowledge, Sovereignty, Power, Strength, Valour and Formidability.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
11.3 O Supreme Lord, it is certain that it is even as you have described Yourself. O Supreme Person, O ocean of compassion for your dependants! I, however, wish to see or wish to realise directly, Your Lordly form peculiar to you - the form as the sovereign, protector, creator, destroyer, supporter of all, the mine of auspicious attributes, supreme and distinct from all other entities.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
11.3 Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
11.3 (Now) O Supreme Lord, as Thou hast thus described Thyself, O Supreme Person, I wish to see Thy divine form.
Commentary

11.3 एवम् thus? एतत् this? यथा as? आत्थ hast declared? त्वम् Thou? आत्मानम् Thyself? परमेश्वर O Supreme Lord? द्रष्टुम् to see? इच्छामि (I) desire? ते Thy? रूपम् form? ऐश्वरम् sovereign? पुरुषोत्तम O Supreme Purusha.Commentary Some commentators take the two halves of this verse as two independent sentences and interpret it thusSo it is? O Supreme Lord? as Thou hast declared Thyself to be. (But still) I desire to see Thy form as Isvara? O Supreme Person.Rupamaisvaram Thy form as Isvara? that of Vishnu as possessed of infinite knowledge? sovereignty? power? strength? prowess and splendour.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
11.3 O supreme Lord, so it is, as You speak about Yourself. O supreme Person, I wish to see the divine form of Yours.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
11.3 I believe all as Thou hast declared it. I long now to have a vision of thy Divine Form, O Thou Most High!
Related values & verses
Related values
Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)
Related verses
BG 11.4 BG 10.18 BG 11.46 SB 3.9.3 SB 10.9.13 SB 1.9.39 CC Madhya 21.1 CC Madhya 9.119 CC Antya 1.79 Īśa Upaniṣad 15 Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.1.3
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Arjuna asks to see the universal form You have described — the request is honest, not greedy.
Practical Applications
  • Make explicit requests to Kṛṣṇa rather than vague longings.
  • Honor the seeker's right to ask for direct experience.
  • Don't assume requests are improper; ask honestly.
Reflection Questions
  • What direct request am I avoiding voicing?
  • What would honest asking risk?
Analogy

A son hears his father described by every relative — soldier, scholar, friend of the king. At last he says, 'Father, I believe them all; let me see you in the room you really live in.' The asking is not doubt; it is the natural next step of love.

Stories
Mother Yaśodā Asking to Look

When Kṛṣṇa ate clay, Yaśodā asked Him to open His mouth — and the Bhāgavatam (SB 10.8) records that within that small mouth she saw the entire universe, planets, mountains, oceans, and herself within Vraja itself.

The pattern of BG 11.3 is the same: the devotee, having heard, wishes to see, and the Lord grants the seeing on His own terms. Arjuna will receive on the battlefield what Yaśodā received in her kitchen.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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