Adhyāya 11 — Viśvarūpa-Darśana Yogaḥ
The Vision of the Universal Form · 55 verses
Overview
from Q&A with KnAVerbal proof no longer satisfies; Arjuna asks to see the cosmic form that canto 10 described. K grants him a “divine eye”, for the mortal eye cannot bear it, and reveals the Viśvarūpa — the Universal Form: countless faces and eyes, blazing like a thousand suns, boundless, containing all the worlds and all the gods, its mouths devouring the warriors of both armies like moths into fire. Terrified and awestruck, Arjuna asks who this fierce being is; and K answers, “I am Time (Kāla), the mighty destroyer of worlds” — these warriors are already slain by Me; be you the mere instrument. Trembling, Arjuna praises the Form, begs forgiveness for every casual familiarity of their friendship, and pleads to see again the gentle, four-armed, then the human face of his friend. K restores it, and declares that this supreme Form — never seen before by any amount of Veda-study, sacrifice or austerity — was shown by grace alone; and that only by undivided devotion can He be known, seen and entered.