Bhagavad Gita 11.15 — Pashyami Devams Tava Deve Dehe — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ११.१५ — पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
अर्जुनः उवाच
arjunaḥ uvācha
Arjuna said
पश्यामि
paśhyāmi
I behold; I see
देवान्
devān
the gods; the celestial beings
तव देव देहे
tava deva dehe
in Your body, O Lord
सर्वान्
sarvān
all
तथा
tathā
as well as
भूतविशेषसङ्घान्
bhūta-viśheṣha-saṅghān
hosts of various classes of beings
ब्रह्माणम्
brahmāṇam
Brahma (the creator)
ईशम्
īśham
the Lord (Shiva)
कमलासनस्थम्
kamala-āsana-stham
seated on the lotus
ऋषीन्
ṛiṣhīn
the sages
च सर्वान्
cha sarvān
and all
उरगान्
uragān
the serpents
च दिव्यान्
cha divyān
and the divine ones
Complete Translation
Arjuna said: O Lord, I see all the gods in Your body, and hosts of every kind of being; Brahma the creator seated on the lotus, the Lord Shiva, all the sages, and the celestial serpents.
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 15
Author: Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva)
Period: Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)
In the eleventh chapter, Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga, after Krishna grants the divine eye, Arjuna begins to behold and describe the universal form. This verse opens his account, as he sees all the gods, beings, Brahma, Shiva, the sages and divine serpents present within the body of the Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Arjuna see in Bhagavad Gita 11.15?▼
Having been granted the divine eye, Arjuna beholds within Krishna's body all the gods, hosts of every kind of being, Brahma seated on the lotus, Lord Shiva, all the sages and the celestial serpents. It is the opening of his description of the universal form.
What is the Vishvarupa or universal form?▼
The Vishvarupa is the cosmic, all-encompassing form of the Lord in which the entire universe and all its beings and deities are contained. Krishna reveals it to Arjuna in Chapter 11 to show His infinite, supreme nature.
Why are Brahma and Shiva seen within Krishna's form?▼
Seeing Brahma the creator and Shiva within the Lord's body shows that even the great deities arise within and depend upon the one Supreme Being. The vision reveals Krishna as the source and support of all gods and all creation.
How can this verse deepen one's devotion?▼
By contemplating that all gods, sages and beings dwell within the Lord, the devotee comes to see the Divine as infinite and all-pervading. This expands devotion beyond a limited image of God to reverence for the Supreme who contains the entire cosmos.
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