Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 21

Chapter 11 – Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति
केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति ।
स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः
स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ॥

Transliteration

amī hi tvāṃ surasaṅghā viśanti kecidbhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti .
svastītyuktvā maharṣisiddhasaṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṃ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ ॥

Meaning

These hosts of gods are entering into You; some, in fear, extol You with joined palms. Bands of great sages and perfected beings, saying ‘May it be well!’, praise You with abundant hymns.

Word meanings

अमी – these (here before me)
हि – indeed
त्वाम् – into You
सुरसङ्घाः – hosts of gods
विशन्ति – enter
केचित् – some
भीताः – afraid
प्राञ्जलयः – with folded hands
गृणन्ति – extol, call upon Your names
स्वस्ति – may it be well
इति – thus
उक्त्वा – having said
महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः – bands of great sages and perfected beings
स्तुवन्ति – praise
स्तुतिभिः – with hymns
पुष्कलाभिः – rich, abundant, complete

Anvaya (word order)

अमी हि सुरसङ्घाः त्वाम् विशन्ति; केचित् भीताः प्राञ्जलयः गृणन्ति; महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः स्वस्ति इति उक्त्वा पुष्कलाभिः स्तुतिभिः त्वाम् स्तुवन्ति ।

Explanation

Arjuna now paints how different beings respond to the Cosmic Form. First, hosts of gods are entering into it. Those who are thought to govern the universe are themselves returning into their source. The gods, too, are not independent; their power and their very being rest on the One.

Second, some stand afraid with joined palms, crying out the Lord’s names. Fear and devotion meet here. When a finite creature stands before boundless power, its natural response is surrender, and the añjali, the cupped and folded hands, is the ancient gesture of that humility.

Third, the great sages and siddhas, established in wisdom, are not shaken. They say svasti, ‘may it be well’, wishing welfare for the world, and praise the Lord with full and rich hymns. The wise see auspiciousness even in the fierce form, for they know that dissolution belongs to the same divine play as creation. Shankara explains that the sages, seeing portents of calamity, utter svasti as a blessing for peace; Ramanuja reads it as the joyful praise of devotees who recognise their Lord in every aspect.

Thus one vision produces many responses according to each being’s understanding: some merge into it, some take refuge in fear, some rejoice and sing. Arjuna himself will soon move between these very states, from terror in verses 23 to 25 to the long hymn of praise from verse 36.

Context

Verse 20 said the three worlds tremble at the fierce form; here Arjuna describes the varied responses of gods, sages and perfected beings. Verse 22 continues the catalogue with the Rudras, Adityas and other celestial hosts gazing in amazement.

Life lesson

The same event is lived as terror, refuge or joy depending on one’s understanding. Wisdom and devotion allow us to keep the attitude of svasti, a heartfelt wish for the good of all, even in the most daunting circumstances.

Key terms

Sura-saṅgha: hosts of gods
Prāñjali: with palms joined in reverence
Svasti: a benediction: may there be well-being
Siddha: a perfected being who has attained yogic accomplishment