11.17 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 11, Verse 17

Verse 11.17 of the Bhagavad Gita captures a profound moment in Arjuna's divine vision of Lord Krishna's Universal Form (Vishwarupa). In this verse, Arjuna describes what he witnesses with the divine sight granted to him by Krishna. He sees a form adorned with crowns, armed with mace and disc, radiating an intense effulgence that spreads in all directions. The brilliance is so overwhelming that Arjuna compares it to blazing fire or the immeasurable radiance of the sun.

This verse comes at a crucial point in the eleventh chapter, where Arjuna is experiencing the cosmic form of the Lord firsthand. Within this universal form, Arjuna perceives the four-armed Vishnu form with its emblematic symbols - the crown (kiritina), mace (gadina), and disc or chakra (chakrina). These divine symbols represent Krishna's supreme authority and power over the cosmos. The crown symbolizes His sovereignty, while the mace and disc represent His ability to protect dharma and destroy adharma.

The description "tejo-rashim sarvato diptimantam" (effulgence spreading and glowing on all sides) conveys the all-pervading nature of the divine light emanating from Krishna's form. This is not ordinary light but a divine radiance that transcends material comparison. Arjuna finds it "durniriksyam" - difficult to behold or look upon directly, even with his divinely enhanced vision. Just as the physical eyes cannot directly gaze at the sun without being overwhelmed, Arjuna struggles to comprehend the full magnitude of what he's witnessing.

The comparison to "diptanalarka-dyutim" (the brilliance of blazing fire and sun) emphasizes that this divine form possesses a brilliance exceeding thousands of blazing suns combined. The term "aprameyam" (immeasurable) further indicates that this form defies quantification or complete comprehension by the human mind. It extends beyond the limits of space and time, having no clear beginning, middle, or end.

What makes this verse particularly significant is that it marks a profound shift in Arjuna's understanding of Krishna's true nature. Until this point, Arjuna had related to Krishna primarily as a friend, charioteer, and wise teacher. Now, he directly perceives Krishna as the Supreme Truth, the foundation of all existence. This realization is both overwhelming and humbling - the friend with whom he had been casually conversing is actually the eternal supreme reality that contains and sustains the entire universe.

The verse beautifully captures the paradox of the divine revelation - Krishna's form is simultaneously visible and difficult to see. While Arjuna can perceive it with his divinely enhanced vision, the sheer intensity and unlimited nature of the form make it challenging to fully comprehend. This reflects the broader spiritual truth that while the divine can be experienced, it ultimately transcends complete intellectual understanding.

Through this verse, we witness Arjuna's attempt to articulate the inexpressible, to describe in human language a vision that exceeds the boundaries of ordinary perception. His description serves as a bridge for us - allowing us to glimpse, through his words, something of the majesty and glory of the Supreme Divine that normally remains hidden from our limited vision. This moment represents one of the highest points of divine revelation in the entire Bhagavad Gita, where the veil between the human and the divine is momentarily lifted.