Thinking of you as a friend, I addressed you carelessly: “O Krishna, O Yadava, O friend.” Not knowing your greatness, I spoke in negligence or affection. I ask forgiveness from your immeasurable form for every disrespect I showed in laughter, play, walking, sleeping, sitting, eating, alone or before companions and relatives.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.41
Hindi · हिन्दी
आपकी महिमा और स्वरूपको न जानते हुए मेरे सखा हैं ऐसा मानकर मैंने प्रमादसे अथवा प्रेमसे हठपूर्वक बिना सोचेसमझे हे कृष्ण हे यादव हे सखे इस प्रकार जो कुछ कहा है और हे अच्युत हँसीदिल्लगीमें, चलतेफिरते, सोतेजागते, उठतेबैठते, खातेपीते समयमें अकेले अथवा उन सखाओं, कुटुम्बियों आदिके सामने मेरे द्वारा आपका जो कुछ तिरस्कार किया गया है वह सब अप्रमेयस्वरुप आपसे मैं क्षमा माँगता हूँ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
सखा-इतिas a friendमत्वाthinkingप्रसभम्boldly, carelesslyयत्whateverउक्तम्was saidहे कृष्णO Krishnaहे यादवO Yadavaहे सखः-इतिO friendअजानताnot knowingमहिमानम्greatnessतवyourइदम्thisमयाby meप्रमादात्through negligenceप्रणयेनthrough affectionवा अपिor evenयत्whateverअवहास-अर्थम्for the sake of jokingअसत्कृतःtreated disrespectfullyअसिyou areविहार-शय्या-आसन-भोजनेषुin recreation, sleep, seat, and भोजनएकः अथवा अपिalone or evenअच्युतO infallible oneतत्thatसमक्षमin the presenceतत् क्षामयेthat I ask forgivenessत्वाम्from youअहम्Iअप्रमेयम्immeasurable one
Read literallyas a friend · thinking · boldly, carelessly · whatever · was said · O Krishna · O Yadava · O friend · not knowing · greatness · your · this · by me · through negligence · through affection · or even · whatever · for the sake of joking · treated disrespectfully · you are · in recreation, sleep, seat, and भोजन · alone or even · O infallible one · that · in the presence · that I ask forgiveness · from you · I · immeasurable one
Understanding the verse
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It shifts devotion from familiarity to humility, teaching the reader to recognise greatness before speaking lightly.
Arjuna apologizes for treating Krishna casually as a friend, not knowing his true greatness. He asks forgiveness for every disrespectful word and act.
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On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna has just seen Krishna's cosmic form and is overwhelmed. The friend he joked with now appears immeasurable. Struck by shame, Arjuna names his careless words and asks forgiveness before that vast presence.
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In your life
Why this verse still matters
You joke too freely with someone until one moment reveals how much they carry. Then embarrassment arrives first, and respect becomes honest.
The takeaway
“Real reverence begins when casual familiarity turns into humble recognition.”
It shifts devotion from familiarity to humility, teaching the reader to recognise greatness before speaking lightly.
What this verse means
Arjuna apologizes for treating Krishna casually as a friend, not knowing his true greatness. He asks forgiveness for every disrespectful word and act.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna has just seen Krishna's cosmic form and is overwhelmed. The friend he joked with now appears immeasurable. Struck by shame, Arjuna names his careless words and asks forgiveness before that vast presence.
Why this verse still matters
You joke too freely with someone until one moment reveals how much they carry. Then embarrassment arrives first, and respect becomes honest.
“Real reverence begins when casual familiarity turns into humble recognition.”
Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses), vishwarupa (50 verses), arjuna prayer (14 verses)