श्रीभगवानुवाच -
पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ।
नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च ।। ११.५ ।।
पश्यादित्यान्वसून्रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा ।
बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत ।। ११.६ ।।

śrī-bhagavān-uvāca -
paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi śataśo’tha sahasraśaḥ |
nānā-vidhāni divyāni nānā-varṇākṛtīni ca || 11.5 ||
paśyādityān-vasūn-rudrān-aśvinau marutas-tathā |
bahūny-adṛṣṭa-pūrvāṇi paśyāścaryāṇi bhārata || 11.6 ||

11.5    

11.6    

The compassionate Teacher obliges the zealous seeker

Vyasadeva, the author of Mahabharata, of which Bhagavad Gita is but a part, tells us that Sri Krishna instantly sensed Arjuna’s aspiration as well as predicament. He then spoke with a matching tone to empower Arjuna with further enlightenment. In Krishna’s reply, it is psychological excellence that glitters more than spiritual Truth or philosophical profundity.

Whether the words of the Text were uttered by Krishna himself, or they are Vyasadeva’s thoughtful creation, is a matter of conjecture any time. The poetic author has his own characteristic freedom while treating the subject with a style and purpose he fosters. However, when the spirit of the dialogue, right from the second chapter, and the ‘interactional philosophy’ Krishna built up thereafter, including the sthita-prajna and sthitadhi descriptions, are taken into account, the visvarupa darsana narration appears to be more as Vyasadeva’s portrayal excellence, aimed at generating abundant awe, admiration and piety, with a philosophical undertone.

The pious and simple minds would generally want to cling to heroic feats. For them, this chapter is immensely alluring and arresting. Cast in mythical terms or eulogistic notes, Vyasadeva’s description of visvarupa darsana is a discussion of the truth about creation, preservation and dissolution.

Sanjaya tells Dhrtarashtra as to how Krishna spoke to Arjuna, while revealing the great vision: “See now, Arjuna, hundreds and thousands of forms and features, imbued with astounding divinity, embodying a great variety of shapes and colours. You may equally see whatever else you want to, all inhering in the same single source. Suns, wind, multiple forms and figures not seen or heard by any – see all of them right in your front.”

The words employed, the zeal with which they are expressed – all have their profound contribution in rendering the message philosophically precise and psychologically elevating. This is where the Indian scriptures excel in their role, content and message.

Though the dialogue transpired in the Kurukshetra battlefield, the occasion was the interaction between a seeker and his Master, under whom the seeker had sought full refuge. Any such event is bound to have its sublimity and wholesomeness. Arjuna is poised for getting his relief and enlightenment, preferably with the additional note of inspiration and assurance from Krishna.

Krishna, the Teacher, is also determined to take the student’s mind to the heights of clarity, illumination and expanse. How best and effectively this fusion can be achieved is the only consideration before both. It is an unfailing law that everything around will combine unpredictably before the zealous seeker and the obliging Knower, to further the great mission of dispelling the seeker’s doubts.