Gita : Ch-11. Slo-4.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :

Chapter-11. ( Visvarupa-darsana-yogam )

Slokam-4.( Arjuna to Lord  : If You think that I am able to behold Your cosmic form, O my Lord, O master of all mystic power, then kindly show me that universal self.)



manyase  yadi  tacchakyam  maya  drashtumiti  prabho,


yogesvara  tato  me  tvam  darsayatmanamavyayam.


 prabho  tat  drashtum  =  O Lord,  to  see  that  Cosmic  form;

maya  chakyam  iti  =  I  am  eligible;

manyase  yadi  =  if  you  think;

yogesvara!  =  Hey  Lord;

tatah  tvam  =  then  Lord;

avyayam  atmanam  =  (thy)  unknown  Eternal  form;

me  darsaya  =  kindly  show  me.


The Supreme Lord Krishna is being requested to show His visvarupa or divine universal form only if He thinks it is appropriate; not because Arjuna is curious to see it.

The Supreme Lord is being asked in a mood of humility to reveal His transcendental universal form and thus will consider showing it.


Hari Om! In this slokam the manner in which Lord Krishna's powerful universal form may be meditated upon along with the details of the form is being requested.

The word prabho means Supreme master, one who is most powerful and capable. In the Moksa Dharma it is also mentioned as such stating : -

There is no one more powerful then the Perennial Supreme Lord.

The word prabhu is specifically referring to the Supreme Lord, the most powerful.


It may be wondered that if the great sages, liberated beings and the demigods are unable to the Supreme Lord Krishna's visvarupa or divine universal form.

How will it be possible for Arjuna to see such a form.

This is why Arjuna states the words manyase yada which means if you consider.

If Lord Krishna considers that Arjuna who is His surrendered devotee is capable of beholding His universal form which encompasses the total creation then by the Supreme Lord's grace He can reveal it. Lord Krishna is addressed by him as Yogesvara or the lord of yogis perfected in the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness.

By the Supreme Lord's grace one can achieve the path leading to spiritual perfection which is one's highest good and without the Supreme Lord's grace no path is capable of yielding spiritual perfection.

Arjuna is inferring that due to being fully devoted to Lord Krishna he can witness this supreme form.


The word avyayam means in entirety.

Arjuna wishes to see the complete visvarupa or divine universal form of Lord Krishna.

The word yogesvara means the lord of yoga or perfecting the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness.

As the lord of yoga He possesses all divine attributes such a wisdom, power, sovereignty, splendour and glory to the maximum degree that is not found to be possessed by any other except Himself and is impossible to duplicate even a portion of it.

These will become clearly apparent in the next verse when Lord Krishna tells Arjuna what he will see when beholding His magnificent visvarupa.

To alleviate the yearning of supplication of His disciple who was earnestly desirous to see His divine universal form and who was enlivened and animated in rapturous emotion, the Supreme Lord Krishna spoke as follows.

To be continued  ...