Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Verse 11.22
रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या विश्वेऽश्िवनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च। गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घा वीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे।।11.22।।
rudrādityā vasavo ye cha sādhyā viśhve ’śhvinau marutaśh choṣhmapāśh cha gandharva-yakṣhāsura-siddha-saṅghā vīkṣhante tvāṁ vismitāśh chaiva sarve
Word Meanings
rudra—a form of Lord Shiv; ādityāḥ—the Adityas; vasavaḥ—the Vasus; ye—these; cha—and; sādhyāḥ—the Sadhyas; viśhve—the Vishvadevas; aśhvinau—the Ashvini kumars; marutaḥ—the Maruts; cha—and; uṣhma-pāḥ—the ancestors; cha—and; gandharva—Gandharvas; yakṣha—the Yakshas; asura—the demons; siddha—the perfected beings; saṅghāḥ—the assemblies; vīkṣhante—are beholding; tvām—you; vismitāḥ—in wonder; cha—and; eva—verily; sarve—all
Translation · English
The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Visvedevas, the two Asvins, Maruts, the Manus, and the hosts of celestial singers, Yakshas, demons, and the perfected ones, all look upon Thee with great amazement.
Deep Meaning · English
In this profound moment of the Vishvarupa-darshana, Krishna reveals that the entire hierarchy of existence—from the Vedic deities and ancestors to the celestial musicians and even the titans of the netherworlds—is utterly mesmerized by the totality of the Divine. This verse acts as a bridge between the finite and the infinite, showing that the Cosmic Form is not merely a sight to be seen, but the very ground of reality that captures the undivided attention of every sentient and celestial entity. Arjuna is witnessing the dissolution of his limited perspective, recognizing that all beings, regardless of their nature or alignment, are ultimately beholden to the source of all manifestations. From the perspective of Advaita, this scene illustrates that multiplicity is merely a projection upon the singular reality of Brahman. The 'wonder' (vismita) experienced by the celestial assemblies signifies the humility that arises when the relative self encounters the Absolute. It teaches the seeker that when one begins to perceive the Divine in all things, the ego’s judgments—whether of deities or demons—collapse into a state of awe. In the light of Bhakti, this verse serves to humble Arjuna, showing him that his personal relationship with Krishna is set against the backdrop of a grand, universal theater where even the greatest masters of the universe stand in silent adoration of the Lord.
When the veil of duality is lifted, the entire universe, regardless of its varied forms and natures, finds its singular purpose in the silent, reverent contemplation of the Divine source.
Connected Verses
Explains that all living beings are eternal fragments of the Divine, which explains why all these entities are naturally drawn to behold their original source.
Depicts Arjuna seeing the entire universe divided into many parts located within the body of the Lord, echoing the presence of all beings in the vision.
This verse lists the specific manifestations of the Lord among various divine groups, serving as the descriptive foundation for the cosmic assembly seen in 11.22.
Highlights the different ways seekers perceive the Divine, ranging from the unitary, transcendent view to the multi-formed, cosmic perspective.
Community Insights
(0)Share your understanding of this verse with fellow seekers.
No insights yet. Be the first to share your understanding of this verse.