Bhagavad Gita 11.12 — Divi Surya-Sahasrasya — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ११.१२ — दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
दिवि
divi
in the sky
सूर्य
sūrya
suns
सहस्रस्य
sahasrasya
of a thousand
भवेत्
bhavet
were to be
युगपत्
yugapat
simultaneously, all at once
उत्थिता
utthitā
risen, blazing forth
यदि
yadi
if
भाः
bhāḥ
splendour, radiance
सदृशी
sadṛiśhī
like, resembling
सा
sā
that
स्यात्
syāt
would be
भासः
bhāsaḥ
the splendour
तस्य
tasya
of that (Being)
महात्मनः
mahā-ātmanaḥ
of the great personality (the Supreme)
Complete Translation
If the splendour of a thousand suns were to blaze forth all at once in the sky, that might resemble the splendour of that great Being (the Universal Form).
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 12
Author: Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva)
Period: Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)
In the eleventh chapter, the Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form (Vishwarupa Darshana Yoga), Arjuna asks to behold Krishna's cosmic form. Granted divine sight, he sees the whole universe within the Lord. This verse describes the unimaginable radiance of that vision — a brilliance like a thousand suns blazing forth together in the heavens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main message of Bhagavad Gita 11.12?▼
It describes the dazzling radiance of Krishna's Universal Form (Vishvarupa): if a thousand suns were to rise together in the sky, their combined light would resemble the splendour of that great Being. The verse conveys the limitless majesty and glory of the Supreme.
Who speaks this verse and in what context?▼
It is spoken by Sanjaya (or, in the flow of the chapter, expresses the vision granted to Arjuna) when Krishna reveals his cosmic Universal Form. Arjuna, given divine eyes, beholds the whole universe within the Lord, and this verse captures the overwhelming brilliance of that sight.
What is the Vishvarupa (Universal Form)?▼
The Vishvarupa is Krishna's all-encompassing cosmic form, in which the entire universe — all gods, beings, worlds and time itself — is seen contained within him. It is one of the most awe-inspiring revelations in all of scripture, displaying the Lord's infinite power and presence.
How can I use this verse in daily life?▼
Use it as a contemplation of God's vastness, especially at sunrise or under a starry sky. Picturing a thousand suns blazing as one helps lift the mind out of petty worries into reverence and surrender before the boundless glory of the Divine.
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