Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 77

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Sanjaya

Sanskrit verse

तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेः ।
विस्मयो मे महान् राजन्हृष्यामि च पुनः पुनः ॥

Transliteration

tacca saṃsmṛtya saṃsmṛtya rūpamatyadbhutaṃ hareḥ .
vismayo me mahān rājanhṛṣyāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ ॥

Meaning

And as I recall again and again that most wondrous form of Hari, great is my amazement, O King, and I rejoice again and again.

Word meanings

तत् – that
च – and
संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य – recalling again and again
रूपम् – form
अत्यद्भुतम् – most wondrous
हरेः – of Hari
विस्मयः – amazement
मे – my
महान् – great
राजन् – O King
हृष्यामि – I rejoice
च – and
पुनः पुनः – again and again

Anvaya (word order)

राजन्, हरेः तत् अत्यद्भुतं रूपं च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य मे महान् विस्मयः (भवति); (अहं) पुनः पुनः हृष्यामि च ।

Explanation

In the previous verse Sanjaya spoke of the joy of recalling the dialogue — the words. Now he speaks of recalling the form — the vision. Tach cha samsmritya samsmritya rupam atyadbhutam hareh — recalling again and again that most wondrous form of Hari. This points to the cosmic vision of Chapter 11, when Krishna showed Arjuna his universal form, blazing like a thousand suns, with countless faces and arms (11.12).

Sanjaya too witnessed that vision, for by Vyasa's divine sight he saw it as well. Remembering it awakens two feelings in him. The first is vismayo me mahan — great amazement. That form was beyond human imagination — the whole universe in one body; creation, preservation and dissolution all at once. Such a vision stuns the intellect.

The second is hrishyami cha punah punah — joy again and again. With amazement comes delight, for he has seen the Lord's glory directly. It is a joy mingled with awe — the feeling that arises when one stands before an infinite, vast reality. The name Hari — he who takes away sins and sorrows — deepens this joy.

This verse makes one lovely point clear: the Gita is not only knowledge to be heard but also a vision to be experienced. Word (the dialogue) and form (the vision) are both means of reaching the Lord. The devotee remembers the Lord's words and also meditates upon his form.

Context

In the previous verse Sanjaya described the joy of recalling the dialogue. This verse describes the amazement and joy of recalling the Lord's cosmic form. In the next and final verse (18.78) Sanjaya gives the Gita's concluding verdict.

Life lesson

Reflect from time to time on the vastness of God and the wonder of creation — it makes the ego small and the heart large. A sense of wonder and gratitude keeps spiritual life alive. Meditating on the Lord's form, along with his words, deepens devotion.

Key terms

Atyadbhuta rupa: Most wondrous form — the cosmic form
Hari: He who removes sins and sorrows — Krishna
Vismaya: Deep amazement
Vishvarupa: The Lord's universal cosmic form (Chapter 11)