Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 22

Chapter 11 – Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या
विश्वेऽश्विनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च ।
गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घा
वीक्षन्ते त्वां विस्मिताश्चैव सर्वे ॥

Transliteration

rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā viśve.aśvinau marutaścoṣmapāśca .
gandharvayakṣāsurasiddhasaṅghā vīkṣante tvāṃ vismitāścaiva sarve ॥

Meaning

The Rudras, Adityas, Vasus and Sadhyas, the Vishvedevas, the two Ashvins, the Maruts and the Ushmapas (the ancestors), and the hosts of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras and Siddhas, all gaze at You in astonishment.

Word meanings

रुद्र – the eleven Rudras
आदित्याः – the twelve Adityas
वसवः – the eight Vasus
ये – who
च – and
साध्याः – the Sadhyas
विश्वे – the Vishvedevas
अश्विनौ – the two Ashvins
मरुतः – the Maruts, wind-gods
ऊष्मपाः – the Ushmapas, ancestors who partake of warm food
गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घाः – hosts of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras and Siddhas
वीक्षन्ते – gaze upon
त्वाम् – You
विस्मिताः – astonished
एव – indeed
सर्वे – all

Anvaya (word order)

रुद्रादित्याः वसवः ये च साध्याः विश्वे अश्विनौ मरुतः च ऊष्मपाः च गन्धर्वयक्षासुरसिद्धसङ्घाः — सर्वे एव विस्मिताः च त्वाम् वीक्षन्ते ।

Explanation

This verse is a roll-call of celestial beings, almost the entire Vedic pantheon. Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Vishvedevas, the Ashvins and the Maruts are the deities honoured in Vedic sacrifice. The Ushmapas, ‘drinkers of warmth’, are traditionally understood as the ancestors who receive the warm portion of food offered in shraddha rites. Then come the Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras and Siddhas, beings of very different natures from many realms.

The purpose of the list is to show that before the Cosmic Form every being, however exalted, becomes a mere spectator. The gods whom people worship are themselves gazing in wonder. In 10.2 Krishna had said that neither the hosts of gods nor the great sages know His origin; here that statement becomes a scene.

Notably, the Asuras are included. Gods and demons, perennial rivals, stand equally amazed. The Lord’s form transcends their opposition. Madhva emphasises in such passages the supremacy of Vishnu and the dependence of all deities upon Him; from the Advaita standpoint of Shankara, all these names and forms are superimposed upon the one Consciousness that is appearing here as the cosmic Lord. Ramanuja sees them as parts of the Lord’s body, distinct yet wholly dependent on Him.

The key word is vismitāḥ, astonished. Wonder arises at the frontier of the intellect. Where understanding halts, the door to reverence opens, and this sense of wonder is the right posture before the Infinite.

Context

Verse 21 described gods entering the form and sages praising it; here Arjuna lists the other celestial hosts gazing in amazement. From verse 23 he turns to his own experience, confessing his growing fear.

Life lesson

Even those we regard as great stand humbled before ultimate truth. Keeping a sense of wonder, the admission that reality is larger than our grasp, softens ego and awakens reverence.

Key terms

Rudras, Ādityas, Vasus: Vedic groups of eleven, twelve and eight deities
Ūṣmapā: the ancestors who partake of warm offerings
Sādhyas: an ancient class of celestial beings
Vismaya: wonder, astonishment