Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 9 (BG 11.9) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

The great sage Vyasa, endowed with multifaceted genius, never left any domain of literature untouched without elevating it to the supreme pinnacle of perfection. Who could describe the brilliance of Vyasa—his incomparable capacity for poetic creation? His matchless prose style? His pure and vivid descriptions? His artistic and literary compositions? His originality in both form and thought? All these qualities were present in him in fullest measure. A radiant philosopher, a complete knower of truth, and skilled in practical wisdom, Vyasa appeared sometimes in royal palaces and sometimes on battlefields. Now in Badrinath, now traversing the quiet, solitary snow-capped peaks—this vast figure of the great sage Vyasa embodied all that is supreme in Hindu tradition and Aryan culture. Such an all-accomplished and gifted person has perhaps never been born in any other age in the history of the world, one who achieved so many accomplishments in his lifetime as did Vyasa. Lord Sri Krishna indicated to Arjuna what he might expect to see in the cosmic form and where this vision of the infinite would be granted to him. Now Vyasa mentions a very brief passage in which Sanjaya describes the events of the battlefield to Dhritarashtra, the blind father of the wicked Kauravas. From a literary perspective, the purpose of this verse is merely to convey that Sri Krishna, true to His word, actually revealed His cosmic form to Arjuna. Yet the skillful composer of the Mahabharata, Vyasa, also wishes to portray for us the sentiments in Sanjaya's heart and his sympathy toward the Pandavas. We have already stated that Sanjaya is our special correspondent. It is clear that his sympathy lies with the Pandavas, the friends of the Lord. This tendency manifests itself unmistakably here when he addresses Dhritarashtra merely as "King," while he calls Sri Krishna the "Great Lord of Yoga" and "Hari." Hari is called the remover—one who destroys falsehood and establishes truth. With these words of Sanjaya, the attention of the listeners and students of the Gita is drawn away from the battlefield toward the royal palace. Perhaps such a shift in scene is necessary to remind readers that the transcendental knowledge of the Gita has an intimate connection with practical life and possesses utility in living. Sanjaya informs Dhritarashtra that the Great Lord of Yoga, Hari, revealed His divine form to Arjuna. In Sanjaya's heart there still lingers a faint hope that upon hearing that the Lord of the Universe, Sri Krishna, stands with the Pandavas, perhaps the blind king might perceive the future defeat of his sons and, exercising wisdom, might prevent the destructive war. In the verses that follow, Sanjaya attempts to describe the objects visible in the cosmic form.