Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 49 (BG 11.49) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

# BG 11.49 Whenever the opportunity arises, the dramatic genius of Vyasa never fails to achieve its fullness. Here is presented an example of such an artistic depiction—one that Vyasa has painted with words upon the canvas of the Gita. The mental agitations of Arjuna are portrayed here in dramatic fashion through the Lord's words: "Do not be seized by fear and delusion upon witnessing this terrible form of Mine." The Lord consoles Arjuna through His gentle words and conduct, restoring peace and joy to his heart. The Lord then assumes His original form again, and announcing this, He says: "Behold once more that form of Mine." This passage, which describes the Lord's re-entry into His former gentle and peaceful form, should certainly awaken in the students of Vedanta the memory of one great declaration. The unity of the cosmic, terrible universal form and Sri Krishna's gentle, divine individual form is beautifully revealed through this statement: "This form of Mine is the same." In truth, the Supreme Reality that is expressed through Sri Krishna's individual manifestation is the very same Reality that exists in the cosmic form, where it stands as the substratum of all names and forms. The ocean is the substratum of waves. If the ocean is mighty, fearsome, terrible, and vast, then the wave itself is modest, gentle, beloved, and attractive. Once again the scene is in Hastinapura, where in the royal palace, the blind elder Dhritarashtra listens as Sanjaya tells him...