Gita 11.23

Chapter 11: The Universal Form

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Gita 11.23
रूपं महत्ते बहुवक्त्रनेत्रं महाबाहो बहुबाहूरुपादम्। बहूदरं बहुदंष्ट्राकरालं दृष्ट्वा लोकाः प्रव्यथितास्तथाहम्।।

rūpaṁ mahat te bahu-vaktra-netraṁ mahā-bāho bahu-bāhūru-pādam bahūdaraṁ bahu-daṁṣṭrā-karālaṁ dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathāham

"Seeing Your great form with many mouths and eyes, O mighty-armed, with many arms, thighs, and feet, many bellies, terrible with many fangs—the worlds tremble, and so do I."

What This Means:

Arjuna describes more: many mouths, eyes, arms, thighs, feet, bellies, and FANGS (damstra-karalam—terrible with teeth). The worlds tremble—and so does Arjuna himself.

Going Deeper:

Arjuna admits his own trembling. He's not just reporting on others; he's included. The vision isn't just intellectually overwhelming—it's physically terrifying. The fangs suggest devouring.

How To Apply This:

It's honest to admit fear before the sacred. Arjuna doesn't pretend calm he doesn't feel. Authentic response includes your actual fear, not just composed praise.

Key Sanskrit Terms:

Daṁṣṭrā-karāla= Terrible with fangsPravyathita= Trembling