Yoga through Beholding the Cosmic Form of God
Verse 11.42
यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु। एकोऽथवाप्यच्युत तत्समक्षं तत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम्।।11.42।।
yach chāvahāsārtham asat-kṛito ’si vihāra-śhayyāsana-bhojaneṣhu eko ’tha vāpy achyuta tat-samakṣhaṁ tat kṣhāmaye tvām aham aprameyam
Word Meanings
yat—whatever; cha—also; avahāsa-artham—humorously; asat-kṛitaḥ—disrespectfully; asi—you were; vihāra—while at play; śhayyā—while resting; āsana—while sitting; bhojaneṣhu—while eating; ekaḥ—(when) alone; athavā—or; api—even; achyuta—Krishna, the infallible one; tat-samakṣham—before others; tat—all that; kṣhāmaye—beg for forgiveness; tvām—from you; aham—I; aprameyam—immeasurable
Translation · English
In whatever way I may have insulted You for the sake of fun, while at play, reposing, sitting, or at meals, when alone (with You), O Krishna, or in company, that I implore You, immeasurable one, to forgive.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Arjuna undergoes a profound shift from viewing Krishna as a companion to recognizing Him as the Absolute Reality. The familiarity that once defined their relationship—shared meals, jokes, and rest—now appears to Arjuna as a form of inadvertent disrespect. By addressing Krishna as 'Achyuta' (the Infallible) and 'Aprameyam' (the Immeasurable), Arjuna acknowledges that he has been treating the Infinite as a finite being, an error rooted in his own limited perception. This moment serves as a universal archetype for the human condition, where the seeker realizes that their casual interaction with the Divine has been hindered by a lack of sacred awe. The apology here is not merely a request for forgiveness; it is the dissolution of the ego's arrogance. When Arjuna humbles himself, he is effectively stripping away the layers of worldly identity that masked his understanding of Krishna’s nature. This transition from 'Sakha' (friend) to 'Bhakta' (devotee) highlights the necessity of balancing intimacy with reverence. It teaches that even in the highest states of devotion, the soul must retain a foundational awareness of the Lord's majesty, acknowledging that the Divine sustains the entire cosmos while simultaneously manifesting in the mundane details of our daily lives.
True devotion requires the delicate balance of intimate companionship tempered by the reverent recognition of the Divine’s infinite, incomprehensible nature.
Connected Verses
Demonstrates the necessity of a servant-master relationship (bhakti) to complement the friendship Arjuna previously held.
Arjuna’s admission of his own limited capacity to fully comprehend Krishna’s supreme truth.
Highlights how the foolish despise the Lord when He descends in human form, failing to perceive His supreme nature.
Shows the point where Arjuna surrenders his confusion to Krishna, marking the beginning of his role as a disciple.
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