Chapter 11, Verse 49
मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम् | व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य ||११-४९||
mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍhabhāvo dṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ ghoramīdṛṅmamedam . vyapetabhīḥ prītamanāḥ punastvaṃ tadeva me rūpamidaṃ prapaśya ||11-49||
Meaning
11.49 Be not afraid, nor bewildered on seeing such a teriible form of Mine as this; with thy fear dispelled and with a gladdened heart, now behold again this former form of Mine.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna's voice turns wholly tender. He reassures his frightened devotee: ma te vyatha ma ca vimudha-bhavah — 'let there be no fear, no bewilderment' at having seen this ghora, terrible form. The Lord who revealed the cosmos as destroyer now bends down to comfort the trembling heart before Him.
He invites Arjuna to become vyapeta-bhih, free from fear, and prita-manah, glad at heart, and to behold once more the gentle, familiar form. This is the loving resolution of the entire chapter. The same Divine that overwhelmed Arjuna now soothes him. The terrifying vision was not given to crush but to liberate — to free him from his illusions about life, death, and his own role. Having served its purpose, it gives way again to grace and gentleness. The deepest truth here is consoling: behind even the most fearsome face of Reality is a love that does not wish us to remain in fear, but calls us back to peace and gladness.
💡 Key Takeaway
Behind the most fearsome face of Reality is a love that calls us out of fear and back into peace and gladness.
Related Verses
अर्जुन उवाच | मदनुग्रहाय परमं गुह्यमध्यात्मसंज्ञितम् | यत्त्वयोक्तं वचस्तेन मोहोऽयं विगतो मम ||११-१||
arjuna uvāca . madanugrahāya paramaṃ guhyamadhyātmasaṃjñitam . yattvayoktaṃ vacastena moho.ayaṃ vigato mama ||11-1||
11.1 Arjuna said By this word (explanation) of the highest secret concerning the Self which Thou hast spoken, for the sake of blessing me, my delusion is gone.
न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा | दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ||११-८||
na tu māṃ śakyase draṣṭumanenaiva svacakṣuṣā . divyaṃ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya me yogamaiśvaram ||11-8||
11.8 But thou art not able to behold Me with these thine own eyes; I give thee the divine eye; behold My lordly Yoga.
सञ्जय उवाच | एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्महायोगेश्वरो हरिः | दर्शयामास पार्थाय परमं रूपमैश्वरम् ||११-९||
sañjaya uvāca . evamuktvā tato rājanmahāyogeśvaro hariḥ . darśayāmāsa pārthāya paramaṃ rūpamaiśvaram ||11-9||
11.9 Sanjaya said Having thus spoken, O king, the great Lord of Yoga, hari (Krishna), showed to Arjuna His supreme form as the Lord.