Chapter 11 Verse 5
Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog
श्री भगवानुवाच पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च।।11.5।।
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha paśhya me pārtha rūpāṇi śhataśho ’tha sahasraśhaḥ nānā-vidhāni divyāni nānā-varṇākṛitīni cha
Word Meanings
| śhrī-bhagavān uvācha | the Supreme Lord said |
| paśhya | behold |
| me | my |
| pārtha | Arjun, the son of Pritha |
| rūpāṇi | forms |
| śhataśhaḥ | by the hundreds |
| atha | and |
| sahasraśhaḥ | thousands |
| nānā-vidhāni | various |
| divyāni | divine |
| nānā | various |
| varṇa | colors |
| ākṛitīni | shapes |
| cha | and |
Translation
The Blessed Lord said, "Behold, O Arjuna, forms of Mine, by the hundreds and thousands, of different sorts, divine, and of various colors and shapes."
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
Here Krishna asks Arjuna to look at his countless divine forms. This shows that the divine is not limited to one shape, color, or idea. It is infinite and appears in many ways so that different minds can connect with it.
The many forms also teach that unity and diversity go together. What seems different on the outside can share the same divine source. Seeing this helps dissolve rigid ideas about what God must be like.
Finally, the verse invites humility: our usual categories and senses are small. Openness and awe allow us to recognize more of reality than we first thought.
Life Application
- Notice the sacred in ordinary life: a person, a sunset, a helpful act—these can be expressions of the divine.
- Be open to different spiritual practices and symbols; they may lead to the same truth in different ways.
- Practice brief moments of wonder each day—look closely at nature, listen deeply, and allow yourself to be surprised.
Reflection Question
Where in my daily life have I overlooked the many forms of the divine?