Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 45 (BG 11.45) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

11.45 अदृष्टपूर्वम् what was never seen before? हृषितः delighted? अस्मि (I) am? दृष्ट्वा having seen? भयेन with fear? च and? प्रव्यथितम् is distressed? मनः mind? मे my? तत् that? एव only? मे to me? दर्शय show? देव O God? रूपम् form? प्रसीद have mercy? देवेश O Lord of the gods? जगन्निवास O Aboe of the universe.Commentary For an ordinary man the Cosmic Form (Vision) is overwhelming and terrifying but for a Yogi it is encouraging? strengthening and soulelevating.Arjuna says The Cosmic Form was never before seen by me. Show me only that form which Thou wearest as my friend.

Every devotee loves the Lord in the form of their chosen deity. When, through that form, they directly perceive the Lord's infinite, transcendent, and formless nature, they undoubtedly experience supreme bliss. Yet in that very moment, they become overwhelmed by fear. This is the experience of spiritual seekers in their initial stages of practice. There is no doubt that the inner peace attained as the fruit of spiritual discipline brings supreme joy, yet suddenly a strange fear arises in the seeker's mind, which causes them to return to bodily consciousness and become subject to mental disturbances. Upon the awakening of Self-realization, this limited individual being, freed from their bondage, enters an unprecedented realm of bliss, where they rejoice in experiencing their own vastness and power. This is what Arjuna expresses—that beholding this form, which I have never seen before, I am filled with joy. Yet in the initial stages of practice, a seeker does not possess the capacity to maintain their mind in a state free from mental modifications for an extended period. The mind, which appeared still in meditation, awakens again and becomes active. It is the experience of seekers that at such times, the first modification that arises in the mind is fear itself. Frightened by the formless experience, the mind returns to bodily identification. On such occasions, devotees, with love and devotion, pray to their chosen deity in personal form to manifest with a gentle smile and a tender, loving gaze and melodious words. Arjuna describes in the next verse the form in which he wishes to behold Sri Krishna.