Reverence is the natural response to vastness.
Arjuna speaks to Krishna
अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्तिकेचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति |स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाःस्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ||११-२१||
amī hi tvāṃ surasaṅghā viśanti kecidbhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti . svastītyuktvā maharṣisiddhasaṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṃ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ ||11-21||
Use this verse when awe and fear mix together.
Meaning
Hosts of gods enter You; some, afraid, praise You with folded hands. Great sages and perfected beings say peace and praise You with abundant hymns.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
All divine beings respond to Krishna with reverence.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
Even celestial beings are humbled by the Vishvarupa. Fear, praise, and reverence all arise before the infinite Divine.
Read the traditional commentary
Arjuna now describes the reaction of all beings to the cosmic form. The very gods, sura-sanghah, are seen entering into Krishna — drawn into the source from which they came. Some among them, frightened, stand with joined palms and offer praise. The great sages and perfected ones, the maharshis and siddhas, cry out svasti — 'may there be peace and well-being' — and sing abundant hymns.
There is a profound picture here of how all creation relates to the Divine. Even the exalted gods are not spectators but participants, dissolving back into the Reality that holds them. And in the presence of such overwhelming power, the natural response of the wise is not analysis but praise and the prayer for peace.
When confronted with the Infinite, even the highest beings fold their hands. Reverence, the verse suggests, is not weakness but the truest wisdom before that which surpasses all.
In daily life
When you feel awe, turn it into prayer rather than panic.
During a powerful life moment, a person can fold hands and silently say Krishna, guide me.
Try this today
Convert one fear into a short prayer.
My awe becomes prayer to Krishna.Reflect
How do I respond to awe: fear, prayer, or denial?
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Quick check
What does ‘स्वस्ति इति उक्त्वा’ mean in this verse?
The Gita on praise, in other chapters
- Verse 10.15 · ArjunaThe Divine is known fully only by the Divine — so the sincere seeker turns to the Source itself for truth.
- Verse 18.77 · SanjayaRemembering the majesty of the Divine fills the heart with wonder and recurring joy.
- Verse 7.9The same divine life glows in every creature and fuels every sincere effort — let that recognition deepen your reverence.
- Verse 9.11Do not judge the sacred by its outward appearance; the divine often comes clothed in the humble and ordinary.
Swipe left for 11.22 · Krishna includes all levels of existence.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 11.21
Who says Bhagavad Gita 11.21, and to whom?
Arjuna speaks to Krishna in verse 11.21, in Chapter 11, Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 11.21 mean?
Hosts of gods enter You; some, afraid, praise You with folded hands. Great sages and perfected beings say peace and praise You with abundant hymns. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 11.21 for daily life?
When you feel awe, turn it into prayer rather than panic. During a powerful life moment, a person can fold hands and silently say Krishna, guide me.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 11.21 mean?
अमी सुरसङ्घाः — these hosts of gods; त्वाम् विशन्ति — enter into You; केचित् भीताः — some, frightened; प्राञ्जलयः — with joined palms; गृणन्ति — extol / praise.
Where does verse 11.21 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 21 of 55 in Chapter 11, Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga. The next verse is 11.22.