Chapter 11, Verse 31
आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद | विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम् ||११-३१||
ākhyāhi me ko bhavānugrarūpo namo.astu te devavara prasīda . vijñātumicchāmi bhavantamādyaṃ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim ||11-31||
Meaning
11.31 Tell me, who Thou art, so fierce of form. Salutations to Thee, O God Supreme: have mercy. I desire to know Thee, the original Being. I know not indeed Thy working.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Overwhelmed past the point of mere description, Arjuna asks the most direct question: akhyahi me ko bhavan — 'tell me, who are You, of such fierce form?' The friend he thought he knew has become unrecognisable, and he humbly seeks understanding. He bows, says namah astu te, and again pleads prasida, 'have mercy'.
His honest admission is moving: na hi prajanami tava pravrttim — 'I do not understand Your working'. He confesses that the purpose behind this terrifying activity is beyond his grasp. This is the posture of true humility before mystery. Arjuna does not pretend to comprehend; he asks. And his asking is not idle curiosity but a longing to know the adyam, the primal Being. There is wisdom here for every seeker: when Reality shows a face we cannot fathom, the right response is not to force an explanation but to bow, to ask sincerely, and to wait in reverence for the answer to be given.
💡 Key Takeaway
When the Divine shows a face beyond our understanding, the wise response is to bow and humbly ask to know.
Related Verses
मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो | योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ||११-४||
manyase yadi tacchakyaṃ mayā draṣṭumiti prabho . yogeśvara tato me tvaṃ darśayātmānamavyayam ||11-4||
11.4 If Thou, O Lord, thinkest it possible for me to see it, do Thou, then, O Lord of the Yogins, show me Thy imperishable Self.
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जयः | प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ||११-१४||
tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo hṛṣṭaromā dhanañjayaḥ . praṇamya śirasā devaṃ kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata ||11-14||
11.14 Then, Arjuna, filled with wonder and with his hair standing on end, bowed down his head to the God and spoke with joined palms.
अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति | स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ||११-२१||
amī hi tvāṃ surasaṅghā viśanti kecidbhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti . svastītyuktvā maharṣisiddhasaṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṃ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ ||11-21||
11.21 Verily, into Thee enter these hosts of gods; some extol Thee in fear with joined palms; saying 'may it be well', bands of great sages and perfected ones praise Thee with hymns complete.