Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 4

Chapter 11 – Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो ।
योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ॥

Transliteration

manyase yadi tacchakyaṃ mayā draṣṭumiti prabho .
yogeśvara tato me tvaṃ darśayātmānamavyayam ॥

Meaning

O Lord, if You think it possible for me to see it, then, O Master of Yoga, reveal to me Your imperishable Self.

Word meanings

मन्यसे – You think
यदि – if
तत् – that (form)
शक्यम् – possible
मया – by me
द्रष्टुम् – to be seen
इति – thus
प्रभो – O Lord, O Master
योगेश्वर – O Lord of Yoga
ततः – then
मे – to me
त्वम् – You
दर्शय – show, reveal
आत्मानम् – Yourself
अव्ययम् – imperishable

Anvaya (word order)

हे प्रभो, यदि त्वम् मन्यसे ‘तत् मया द्रष्टुम् शक्यम्’ इति, ततः हे योगेश्वर, त्वम् मे अव्ययम् आत्मानम् दर्शय ।

Explanation

In the previous verse Arjuna voiced his wish; here he places it entirely in Krishna’s hands. Manyase yadi — ‘if You think it possible.’ This is the true posture of a seeker: to ask, but not to insist. Arjuna knows he is not the judge of his own fitness; only the teacher and the Lord can decide that. Shankara draws attention to the word shakyam, ‘possible’: Arjuna genuinely doubts whether his capacity is equal to such a sight.

The address Yogeshvara, ‘Lord of Yoga’, is chosen with care. Yoga here means the supreme power by which the impossible becomes possible. The One who is master even of the masters of yoga is the One who can decide whether Arjuna can see — and if he cannot, how to make him able. That is exactly what happens in verse 8, where Krishna grants him divine sight.

Arjuna asks for the avyaya atman, the imperishable Self. He is not asking for a passing marvel or a display of tricks, but for the changeless reality underlying all change. Ramanuja understands this as the form of the Lord that governs and sustains the entire universe. The prayer holds faith, longing and surrender in perfect balance, and it is this balance that moves the Lord to respond with such generosity in the verses that follow.

Context

Arjuna completes his petition, begun in verse 3, by submitting it to Krishna’s judgement. From verse 5 Krishna begins to answer, inviting Arjuna to behold His forms.

Life lesson

Ask God for what you long for, but leave the decision with Him; He knows better what is fitting. Do not presume your own worthiness — humility is the truest qualification.

Key terms

Yogeshvara: Lord of yoga and of all supernatural power
Prabhu: Lord, master, the one able to accomplish
Avyaya Atman: the Lord’s imperishable, changeless Self