I see you wearing a crown, holding a mace and discus, blazing everywhere, hard to behold, and immeasurable — like fire and the sun in brilliance.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.17
Hindi · हिन्दी
मैं आपको किरीट, गदा, चक्र तथा शङ्ख और पद्म धारण किये हुए देख रहा हूँ । आपको तेजकी राशि, सब ओर प्रकाश करनेवाले, देदीप्यमान अग्नि तथा सूर्यके समान कान्तिवाले, नेत्रोंके द्वारा कठिनतासे देखे जानेयोग्य और सब तरफसे अप्रमेयस्वरूप देख रहा हूँ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
किरीटिनम्crownedगदिनम्mace-bearingचक्रिणम्discus-bearingचandतेजोराशिम्a mass of radianceसर्वतोदीप्तिमन्तम्shining on all sidesपश्यामिI seeत्वाम्youदुर्निरीक्ष्यम्hard to beholdसमन्तात्on every sideदीप्तानलार्कद्युतिम्with the brilliance of blazing fire and the sunअप्रमेयम्immeasurable
Read literallycrowned · mace-bearing · discus-bearing · and · a mass of radiance · shining on all sides · I see · you · hard to behold · on every side · with the brilliance of blazing fire and the sun · immeasurable
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind from trying to grasp the whole picture to yielding before what exceeds comprehension.
Arjuna sees Krishna in a radiant cosmic form, crowned and armed, blazing like fire and the sun, impossible to measure or fully look at.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is still staring at Krishna’s cosmic form after the armies have frozen around them. What he sees is overwhelming: crowned, armed, blazing, and beyond measure. This vision deepens his surrender before Krishna explains what this vast form means.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You stand before a decision that strips away all comfort: the relationship, the job, the truth you have avoided. Suddenly the situation feels larger than your plans, and your control looks small.
The takeaway
“Awe replaces ordinary seeing. The mind meets something too vast to contain.”
Arjuna sees Krishna in a radiant cosmic form, crowned and armed, blazing like fire and the sun, impossible to measure or fully look at.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.17?
Arjuna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga" (The Universal Form).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 11.17?
Verse 17 sits in Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga, "The Universal Form". The chapter has 55 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 11.17 matter today?
You stand before a decision that strips away all comfort: the relationship, the job, the truth you have avoided. Suddenly the situation feels larger than your plans, and your control looks small.
It shifts the mind from trying to grasp the whole picture to yielding before what exceeds comprehension.
What this verse means
Arjuna sees Krishna in a radiant cosmic form, crowned and armed, blazing like fire and the sun, impossible to measure or fully look at.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is still staring at Krishna’s cosmic form after the armies have frozen around them. What he sees is overwhelming: crowned, armed, blazing, and beyond measure. This vision deepens his surrender before Krishna explains what this vast form means.
Why this verse still matters
You stand before a decision that strips away all comfort: the relationship, the job, the truth you have avoided. Suddenly the situation feels larger than your plans, and your control looks small.
“Awe replaces ordinary seeing. The mind meets something too vast to contain.”
Explore related themes: vishwarupa (50 verses), cosmic form (25 verses), arjuna prayer (14 verses)