अर्जुन उवाच।
मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसज्ञितम् ।
यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम ॥1॥
arjuna uvācha
mad-anugrahāya paramaṁ guhyam adhyātma-sanjñitam
yat tvayoktaṁ vachas tena moho ’yaṁ vigato mama
श्लोक १: अर्जुन ने कहा - ये अत्यंत गुप्त आध्यात्मिक ज्ञान जो आपने करुणावश मुझे दिया है, उसे पाकर मेरा अज्ञान अब दूर हो गया है।
Shloka 1: Arjuna said - Having received this profoundly confidential spiritual knowledge, that You have revealed out of compassion for me, my ignorance is now dispelled.
In Bhagavad Gita verse 11.1, Arjuna expresses his gratitude to Lord Krishna, acknowledging that the supreme confidential knowledge Krishna has shared out of compassion has successfully dispelled Arjuna's delusion. This marks a significant turning point in Arjuna's spiritual journey, as he transitions from confusion to clarity, from doubt to certainty.
Having absorbed Krishna's teachings from the previous chapters, Arjuna now stands at a threshold of deeper understanding. He recognizes Krishna not merely as his charioteer or friend, but as the Supreme Lord who pervades and sustains the entire universe. The intellectual knowledge he has gained has cleared away his misconceptions, yet Arjuna yearns for something more profound—a direct experience of the divine reality that Krishna has described.
This verse opens Chapter 11, where Arjuna's journey moves beyond theoretical understanding to direct perception. Despite having received extensive teachings about Krishna's divine opulence (vibhutis) in Chapter 10, Arjuna desires to witness firsthand how Krishna's presence extends throughout all creation. This request doesn't stem from doubt or disbelief in Krishna's words, but rather from a sincere desire to deepen his realization and establish Krishna's supremacy for the benefit of all beings.
What's particularly noteworthy about Arjuna's approach is his humility. He doesn't demand to see the Universal Form as a test or challenge to Krishna's claims. Instead, he humbly requests this vision, acknowledging that such revelation comes solely through Krishna's grace. This attitude exemplifies the correct approach to spiritual knowledge—one of reverence, humility, and sincere curiosity rather than entitlement or skepticism.
The verse also highlights the relationship between intellectual understanding and direct experience in spiritual life. While Arjuna has intellectually grasped Krishna's teachings, he intuitively knows that direct perception will transform his understanding in ways that words alone cannot. This reveals an important principle: spiritual knowledge becomes complete when intellectual understanding is complemented by direct experience.
Arjuna's state of mind in this verse demonstrates his evolution as a disciple. The warrior who began the dialogue in despair and confusion has now developed the spiritual maturity to receive one of the most profound revelations in the entire Gita—the Universal Form or Vishwarupa. This form, which even great sages and demigods rarely witness, is about to be revealed to Arjuna because of his sincerity, devotion, and readiness.
This verse sets the stage for what follows—an awe-inspiring revelation that will further reinforce Krishna's divine nature and cosmic presence. Arjuna stands at the threshold of witnessing something extraordinary, not for personal satisfaction but to establish a criterion of divinity that would help future generations distinguish between genuine divine manifestations and false claims. Through Arjuna's humble request, the Gita prepares us for one of its most magnificent teachings—the direct vision of God's universal presence that transcends all limited conceptions of divinity.
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