दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि | दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ||११-२५||
daṃṣṭrākarālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvaiva kālānalasannibhāni .
diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa ||11-25||
Having seen Thy mouths fearful with teeth (blazing) like the fires of cosmic dissolution, I know not the four quarters, nor do I find peace. Have mercy, O Lord of the gods, O abode of the universe.
In simple words
Arjuna pleads: "Your mouths with their blazing teeth look like the fires that burn at the end of the world. I have lost all sense of direction. I can't find peace anywhere. Please have mercy on me, Lord of gods."
दंष्ट्राकरालानिfearful with teethचandतेThyमुखानिmouthsदृष्ट्वाhaving seenएवevenकालानलसन्निभानिblazing like Pralayafiresदिशःthe four artersनnotजानेknowनnotलभेdo (I) obtainचandशर्मpeace
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प्रसीदhave mercy
देवेशO Lord of the gods
जगन्निवासO abode of the universe
11.25 दंष्ट्राकरालानि fearful with teeth? च and? ते Thy? मुखानि mouths? दृष्ट्वा having seen? एव even? कालानलसन्निभानि blazing like Pralayafires? दिशः the four arters? न not? जाने know? न not? लभे do (I) obtain? च and? शर्म peace? प्रसीद have mercy? देवेश O Lord of the gods? जगन्निवास O abode of the universe.Commentary Jagannivasa The substratum of the universe.Kalanala The fires which consume the worlds during the final dissolution of the worlds (Pralaya). Time (Kala) is the consumer of all that is manifest.Diso no jane I do not know the four arters. I cannot distinguish the east from the west? nor the north from the south.
Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.
This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.
Modern
As described in the verse, Arjuna is losing his composure and peace upon witnessing such a terrifying form. This is the image of all-devouring Time, the force that levels all beings into uniformity. When such a vast vision presents itself before one's sight, and that too with such sudden intensity, the very magnitude of it seems to strangle the faculty of discernment, and for a moment the person becomes bereft of all sensation. The state of confusion-born disorder is expressed here in these words: I can no longer discern the directions. But the matter does not end there. I can neither maintain steadiness nor find peace. In this state of ultimate wonder, the astonished human realizes that his physical strength, mental capacities, and the subtle penetration of intellect—in their individual forms and in their collective expression—are truly insignificant instruments. The small ego, casting off the veil of false pride and the armor of illusory power, stands completely bare and humbly surrenders itself before the might of the collective universal force. Before the supreme divine, the collective power—for one who has fully understood the meaninglessness of his hollow conceits—there remains but one refuge: prayer. At the end of this verse, Arjun prays: O Lord of the gods, O Dweller in all worlds, be pleased with me. Through this prayer, Vyasa shows that a person whose heart is full of pride and arrogance can never offer true prayer. Only when a person understands his insignificance in this vast cosmic universe does he pray with a sincere heart. Arjun was doubtful about his victory in this war. The main purpose of this passage, which begins from the twenty-first verse, is to give Arjun some understanding of future events. While assuring him regarding the outcome of the war, the Lord now directly shows the warriors of the armies entering into the mouth of Time.