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Verse 11.20
Arjuna’s Awe, Ecstasy, and Terrifying Realization of Time
अर्जुन उवाच (Arjuna said)

Bhagavad Gita · Verse 11.20

Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (विश्वरूपदर्शनयोगः)

अर्जुन उवाच

(Arjuna said)

द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः । दृष्ट्वाद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन् ॥२०॥

dyāvāpṛthivyoridamantaraṃ hi vyāptaṃ tvayaikena diśaśca sarvāḥ | dṛṣṭvādbhutaṃ rūpamugraṃ tavedaṃ lokatrayaṃ pravyathitaṃ mahātman ||20||

Complete Shloka Translation

en

You alone fill the space between heaven and earth and every direction. Great Self, seeing Your wondrous, terrible form, the three worlds tremble.

Narrative Context: The all-pervading form unsettles the worlds.

Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)

15 words
दिश्diś

direction

प्रव्यथितpravyathita

deeply distressed

द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरंdyāvāpṛthivyoridamantaraṃ

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

हिhi

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

व्याप्तंvyāptaṃ

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

त्वयैकेनtvayaikena

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

दिशश्चdiśaśca

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

सर्वाःsarvāḥ

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

दृष्ट्वाद्भुतंdṛṣṭvādbhutaṃ

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

रूपमुग्रंrūpamugraṃ

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

तवेदंtavedaṃ

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

लोकत्रयंlokatrayaṃ

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

प्रव्यथितंpravyathitaṃ

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

महात्मन्mahātman

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

२०mahātman

[term] in context of You alone fill the space betwe...

Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts

Arjuna’s account moves from wonder toward terror. The three worlds are part of the chapter’s traditional cosmological language.

Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry

"Awe can include fear when familiar limits disappear."

Inquiry Question to Ponder:

Can you recognize fear without denying wonder?

Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)

Apply this verse to dissolve petty ego: see yourself as a humble instrument (Nimitta-matram) of a vastly larger cosmic intelligence. Let go of personal anxiety over outcomes, doing your duty with courage and dedication.

Concepts:
Awe
Fear