11.1 Arjuna said to the messenger: By the supreme and secret word concerning the soul, which you have conveyed to me out of grace, this delusion of mine has gone.

11.2 From you, O lotus-eyed one, I have heard at length of the creation and passing away of beings, and of God's imperishable majesty.

11.3 Even as God has declared Himself through you, I long to behold the signs of His sovereignty, O best of men.

11.4 If you think it possible for me to witness them, O master, then pray to the Lord that He may show me His imperishable majesty.

11.5 Krishna conveyed the word of God: Behold, O Pārtha, My signs by hundreds and by thousands, manifold and wondrous, of many colours and shapes.

11.6 Behold the shining ones, the bright powers, the powers of the storm, the twin healers and the winds; behold many wonders never seen before, O Bhārata.

11.7 Behold today the whole universe, moving and unmoving, gathered together in My dominion, O Guḍākeśa, and whatever else you wish to see.

11.8 But you cannot see Me with these eyes of yours. I give you a vision of insight; behold My sovereign power.

11.9 Sañjaya said: Having spoken thus, O king, the messenger, by the leave of the Great Lord, showed Arjuna the supreme vision of God's sovereignty —

11.10 the whole of creation with its countless faces and eyes, its countless wondrous sights, its countless divine adornments and the countless instruments of His power raised on high,

11.11 adorned with heavenly garlands and garments, anointed with heavenly fragrance, all-wondrous, boundless, facing every direction — the dominion of God.

11.12 If the light of a thousand suns were to blaze forth at once in the sky, it might resemble the splendour of that Mighty One's glory.

11.13 There the son of Pāṇḍu beheld the whole universe, with its many divisions, gathered together in the dominion of the God of gods.

11.14 Then Dhanaṃjaya, overcome with wonder, his hair standing on end, bowed his head before God and, with joined palms, said:

11.15 Arjuna said: In Your dominion, O God, I see the angels and every kind of creature; the highest of created beings enthroned in light, all the seers and the heavenly serpents.

11.16 I see Your power without end on every side, in countless arms and bodies and faces and eyes; I see no end, no middle and no beginning to You, O Lord of the universe, whose signs fill all creation.

11.17 I see the radiance of Your sovereignty, of Your judgement and Your dominion, a mass of splendour blazing on every side, hard to look upon, brilliant as flaming fire and sun, immeasurable.

11.18 You are the Imperishable, the Supreme to be known; You are the final refuge of this universe; You are the undying Guardian of the eternal law; You are, I believe, the Eternal Being.

11.19 Without beginning, middle or end, infinite in power — the sun and the moon are Your signs; Your power, like blazing fire, burns through this universe with Your own radiance.

11.20 The space between heaven and earth and all the quarters are filled by You alone. Seeing this wondrous and terrible power of Yours, the three worlds tremble, O Mighty One.

11.21 Hosts of angels hasten to Your command; some, in fear, praise You with joined palms; crying "Peace!", the companies of great seers and the perfected praise You with abundant hymns.

11.22 All the ranks of angels and spirits, the heavenly singers, the hidden beings, the jinn and the hosts of the perfected gaze upon You in amazement.

11.23 Seeing Your mighty power, with its many faces and eyes, its many arms, thighs and feet, its terrible might, the worlds are terrified, and so am I.

11.24 Seeing Your power touching the sky, blazing with many colours, with vast and shining eyes, my inmost soul trembles, and I find no steadiness or peace, O Lord.

11.25 Seeing the terrible power of Your judgement, like the fire of the Final Hour, I lose my bearings and find no refuge. Be merciful, O Lord of the angels, Refuge of the world!

11.26 All these sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, with the hosts of kings, Bhīṣma, Droṇa and the charioteer's son, together with the chief warriors of our own side,

11.27 are rushing into the terrible jaws of death that You have decreed; some are seen caught between its teeth, their heads crushed to powder.

11.28 As the many torrents of rivers rush towards the ocean, so these heroes of the world of men rush into the blazing jaws of death.

11.29 As moths rush with gathering speed into a blazing flame to perish, so these worlds rush with gathering speed to their destruction by Your decree.

11.30 Your decree consumes all the worlds on every side with flaming judgement; Your fierce radiance fills the whole universe and scorches it, O Lord.

11.31 Tell me, who are You, so fierce in power? I bow to You, O Supreme God; be merciful. I wish to know You, the Primal One, for I do not understand Your purpose.

11.32 Krishna conveyed the word of God: I am the Lord of Time, who brings the worlds to their end, set forth here to gather in the peoples. Even without you, none of these warriors arrayed in the opposing ranks shall live.

11.33 Therefore arise and win glory; conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. They have already been slain by Me; be only the instrument, O ambidextrous archer.

11.34 Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa and the other mighty warriors have been slain by Me; strike them, and do not waver. Fight — you shall conquer your foes in battle.

11.35 Sañjaya said: Hearing these words conveyed by Keśava, the crowned Arjuna, trembling, with joined palms, bowing in awe before God, spoke again to Krishna in a faltering voice, overwhelmed with fear:

11.36 Rightly, O messenger, does the world rejoice and delight in the praise of God; the demons flee in terror in all directions, and all the hosts of the perfected bow down to Him.

11.37 And why should they not bow to You, O Mighty One, the First Creator, greater than the highest of creation? O Infinite, Lord of the angels, Refuge of the world, You are the Imperishable, the Creator of being and non-being, and what is beyond them.

11.38 You are the First God, the Ancient Being; You are the final refuge of this universe; You are the Knower and the One to be known, and the Supreme Abode. By You this universe is spread out, O Lord of infinite signs.

11.39 The wind, death, fire, the sea and the moon all obey Your command; You are the Creator of all creatures. Praise be to You a thousand times, and again and again praise be to You!

11.40 Praise be to You before and behind, praise be to You on every side. Infinite in power, boundless in might, You encompass all things.

11.41 Whatever I have said rashly to Your messenger, thinking him only a friend — "O Krishna, O Yādava, O friend" — unaware of the greatness of the message entrusted to him, through carelessness or affection,

11.42 and whatever disrespect was shown to him in jest, at play, at rest, at table, alone or before others — for that I ask forgiveness of You, O Immeasurable God.

11.43 You are the Lord of the world, of all that moves and is still; You alone are worthy of worship, the greatest Teacher. There is none equal to You in the three worlds — how then could any be greater, O Lord of matchless power?

11.44 Therefore, bowing down and prostrating my body, I beg Your grace, O Lord most praiseworthy. As a father forgives a son, a friend a friend, a lover the beloved, forgive me, O God.

11.45 I rejoice at having seen what was never seen before, yet my mind is shaken with fear. Let me see Your messenger again as he was; be merciful, O Lord of the angels, Refuge of the world.

11.46 I wish to see the messenger before me once more in his familiar form; withdraw this overwhelming vision, O Lord of all creation.

11.47 Krishna conveyed the word of God: By My grace, O Arjuna, I have shown you, through My own power, this supreme vision, radiant, universal, infinite and primal, which none but you has seen before.

11.48 Not by the scriptures, nor sacrifice, nor study, nor gifts, nor rites, nor fierce austerities can this vision be gained in the world of men by any but you, O hero of the Kurus.

11.49 Do not be afraid or bewildered at having seen this terrible vision of My majesty. Free from fear and glad at heart, behold again what you knew before.

11.50 Sañjaya said: Having spoken thus to Arjuna, Vāsudeva stood before him again in his own form, and the great-souled messenger, gentle in appearance once more, comforted him in his fear.

11.51 Arjuna said: Seeing your gentle human form again, O Janārdana, I have now come to myself and am restored to my natural state.

11.52 Krishna conveyed the word of God: This vision of Mine that you have witnessed is very hard to attain; even the angels long ever to behold it.

11.53 Not by the scriptures, nor austerity, nor charity, nor sacrifice can I be witnessed as you have witnessed Me.

11.54 But by undivided devotion alone, O Arjuna, can I be known in truth, witnessed, and drawn near to, O scorcher of foes.

11.55 Whoever does My work, holds Me as the supreme goal, is devoted to Me, free from attachment and without enmity towards any being — he comes to Me, O Pāṇḍava.