Chapter 11, Verse 52
श्रीभगवानुवाच | सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम | देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः ||११-५२||
śrībhagavānuvāca . sudurdarśamidaṃ rūpaṃ dṛṣṭavānasi yanmama . devā apyasya rūpasya nityaṃ darśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ ||11-52||
Meaning
11.52 The Blessed Lord said Very hard indeed it is to see this form of Mine which thou hast seen. Even the gods are ever longing to behold it.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna once more impresses upon Arjuna the rarity of his blessing. The form he has seen is su-durdarsam — exceedingly difficult to behold. So precious is this vision that even the devas, the gods themselves, are nityam darsana-kanksinah — eternally longing to glimpse it, yet rarely granted the sight.
The teaching gently elevates Arjuna's gratitude. What he experienced in fear and trembling is, in truth, the object of the deepest yearning of even celestial beings. This reframes the whole encounter. The seeker is reminded not to take such grace lightly, nor to dwell only on the terror it stirred, but to recognise the immeasurable privilege it represents. There is also a quiet encouragement here for every aspirant: the highest vision is rare and hard-won, sought even by the gods, and therefore worthy of the most earnest devotion. What we are given freely by grace, others have longed for through ages. Such a gift calls for reverence and a deepened resolve on the path.
💡 Key Takeaway
The deepest spiritual vision is rare and longed-for even by the gods; receiving it calls for profound gratitude.
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.
भवाप्ययौ हि भूतानां श्रुतौ विस्तरशो मया | त्वत्तः कमलपत्राक्ष माहात्म्यमपि चाव्ययम् ||११-२||
bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṃ śrutau vistaraśo mayā . tvattaḥ kamalapatrākṣa māhātmyamapi cāvyayam ||11-2||
11.2 The origin and the destruction of beings verily have been heard by me in detail from Thee, O lotus-eyed Lord, and also Thy inexhaustible greatness.
एवमेतद्यथात्थ त्वमात्मानं परमेश्वर | द्रष्टुमिच्छामि ते रूपमैश्वरं पुरुषोत्तम ||११-३||
evametadyathāttha tvamātmānaṃ parameśvara . draṣṭumicchāmi te rūpamaiśvaraṃ puruṣottama ||11-3||
11.3 (Now) O Supreme Lord, as Thou hast thus described Thyself, O Supreme Person, I wish to see Thy divine form.