Therefore, bowing down my body, I seek to please You, the worthy Lord of praise. Like a father bearing a son’s fault, a friend bearing a friend’s, or a lover bearing a beloved’s, You should forgive what I have done.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.44
Hindi · हिन्दी
इसलिये शरीरसे लम्बा पड़कर स्तुति करनेयोग्य आप ईश्वरको मैं प्रणाम करके प्रसन्न करना चाहता हूँ । जैसे पिता पुत्रके, मित्र मित्रके और पति पत्नीके अपमानको सह लेता है, ऐसे ही हे देव आप मेरे द्वारा किया गया अपमान सहनेमें समर्थ हैं ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
तस्मात्thereforeप्रणम्यbowing downप्रणिधायplacing downकायम्the bodyप्रसादयेI seek to pleaseत्वाम्Youअहम्Iईशम्the Lordईड्यम्worthy of praiseपितेवlike a fatherपुत्रस्यof a sonसखा इवlike a friendसख्युःof a friendप्रियःa belovedप्रियायाःof a belovedअर्हसिYou shouldदेवO radiant one
Read literallytherefore · bowing down · placing down · the body · I seek to please · You · I · the Lord · worthy of praise · like a father · of a son · like a friend · of a friend · a beloved · of a beloved · You should · O radiant one
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the response from self-protection to humble repair.
Arjuna bows fully to Krishna and asks for forgiveness, saying Krishna should bear his disrespect the way loved ones bear each other’s faults.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna stands before Krishna’s cosmic form on the battlefield, shaken by awe and guilt. After seeing the vastness of Krishna’s being, he lowers his body completely and asks forgiveness for past familiarity and disrespect.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You realize, halfway through a harsh message, that you crossed a line. Pride wants to defend itself; humility lets you own the harm and ask forgiveness plainly.
The takeaway
“Humility can repair what fear and pride have strained.”
Arjuna bows fully to Krishna and asks for forgiveness, saying Krishna should bear his disrespect the way loved ones bear each other’s faults.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.44?
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 11.44?
Verse 44 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 11.44 matter today?
You realize, halfway through a harsh message, that you crossed a line. Pride wants to defend itself; humility lets you own the harm and ask forgiveness plainly.
It shifts the response from self-protection to humble repair.
What this verse means
Arjuna bows fully to Krishna and asks for forgiveness, saying Krishna should bear his disrespect the way loved ones bear each other’s faults.
Context & commentary
Arjuna stands before Krishna’s cosmic form on the battlefield, shaken by awe and guilt. After seeing the vastness of Krishna’s being, he lowers his body completely and asks forgiveness for past familiarity and disrespect.
Why this verse still matters
You realize, halfway through a harsh message, that you crossed a line. Pride wants to defend itself; humility lets you own the harm and ask forgiveness plainly.
“Humility can repair what fear and pride have strained.”
Explore related themes: bhakti (69 verses), vishwarupa (50 verses), arjuna prayer (14 verses)