SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 52
sri-bhagavan uvaca
su-durdarsam idam rupam
drstavan asi yan mama
deva apy asya rupasya
nityam darsana-kanksinah

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; su-durdarsam--very difficult to see; idam--this; rupam--form; drstavan asi--as you have seen; yat--which; mama--of Mine; devah--the demigods; api--also; asya--this; rupasya--form; nityam--eternally; darsana-kanksinah--aspiring to see.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, this form of Mine you are now seeing is very difficult to behold. Even the demigods are ever seeking the opportunity to see this form, which is so dear.

JOURNAL:

Slokas 53-55 have already been posted. Please see entries for 04/20 & 4/23/2011.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 51
arjuna uvaca
drstvedam manusam rupam
tava saumyam janardana
idanim asmi samvrttah
sa-cetah prakrtim gatah

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; drstva--seeing; idam--this; manusam--human; rupam--form; tava--You r; saumyam--very beautiful; janardana--O chastiser of the enemies; idanim--now; asmi--I am; samvrttah--settled; sa-cetah--in my consciousness; prakrtimn--to my own nature; gatah--returned.

TRANSLATION

When Arjuna thus saw Krsna in His original form, he said: O Janardana, seeing this humanlike form, so very beautiful, I am now composed in mind, and I am restored to my original nature.

JOURNAL:

There are strong words from Srila Prabhupada at the end of this purport; The original verses of Bhagavad-gita are as clear as the sun; they do not require lamplight from foolish commentators.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 50
sanjaya uvaca
ity arjunam vasudevas tathoktva
svakam rupam darsayam asa bhuyah
asvasayam asa ca bhitam enam
bhutva punah saumya-vapur mahatma

sanjayah uvaca--Sanjaya said; iti--thus; ariunam--unto Arjuna; vasudevah--Krsna; tatha--in that way; uktva--speaking; svakam--His own; rupam--form; darsayam asa--showed; bhuyah--again; asvasayam asa--encouraged; ca--also; bhitam--fearful; enam--him; bh utva--becoming; punah--again; saumya-vapuh--the beautiful form; maha-atma--the great one.

TRANSLATION

Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, having spoken thus to Arjuna, displayed His real four-armed form and at last showed His two-armed form, thus encouraging the fearful Arjuna.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 49
ma te vyatha ma ca vimudha-bhavo
drstva rupam ghoram idrn mamedam
vyapeta-bhih prita-manah punas tvam
tad eva me rupam idam prapasya

ma--let it not be; te--unto you; vyatha--trouble; ma--let it not be; ca--also; vimudha-bhavah--bewilderment; drstva--by seeing; rupam--form; ghoram--horrible; idrk--as it is; mama--My; idam--this; vyapeta-bhih--free from all fear; prita-manah--pleased in mind; punah--again; tvam--you; tat--that; eva--thus; me--My; rupam--form; idam--this; prapasya--just see.

TRANSLATION

You have been perturbed and bewildered by seeing this horrible feature of Mine. Now let it be finished. My devotee, be free again from all disturbances. With a peaceful mind you can now see the form you desire.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada ends his purport to this sloka with these words; A devotee is not much interested in the universal form, for it does not enable one to reciprocate loving feelings. Either a devotee wants to offer his respectful worshipful feelings, or he wants to see the two-handed Krsna form so that he can reciprocate in loving service with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 48
na veda-yajnadhyayanair na danair
na ca kriyabhir na tapobhir ugraih
evam-rupah sakya aham nr-loke
drastum tvad anyena kuru-pravira

na--never; veda-yajna--by sacrifice; adhyayanaih--or Vedic study; na--never; danaih--by charity; na--never; ca--also; kriyabhih--by pious activities; na--never; tapobhih--by serious penances; ugraih--severe; evam-rupah--in this form; sakyah--can; aham--I; nr-loke--in this material world; drastum--be seen; tvat--than you; anyena--by another; kuru-pravira--O best among the Kuru warriors.

TRANSLATION

O best of the Kuru warriors, no one before you has ever seen this universal form of Mine, for neither by studying the Vedas, nor by performing sacrifices, nor by charity, nor by pious activities, nor by severe penances can I be seen in this form in the material world.


JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada, in his purport, gives us this definition of what a demigod is; And what is a demigod? It is stated in the Vedic scriptures that those who are devotees of Lord Visnu are demigods (visnu-bhaktah smrta devah).

He also has this to say about Bhagavad-gita; We should follow the principles of Bhagavad-gita, otherwise there is no possibility of attaining perfect spiritual knowledge. Although Bhagavad-gita is considered the preliminary study of the science of God, still it is so perfect that it enables one to distinguish what is what.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 47
sri-bhagavan uvaca
maya prasannena tavariunedam
rupam param darsitam atma-yogat
tejo-mayam visvam anantam adyam
yan me tvad anyena na drsta-purvam

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; maya--by Me; prasannena--happily; tava--unto you; ariuna--O Arjuna; idam--this; rupam--form; param--transcendental; darsitam--shown; atma-yogat--by My internal potency; tejah-mayam--full of effulgence; visvam--the entire universe; anantam--unlimited; adyam--original; yat--that which; me--My; tvat anyena--besides you; na drsta-purvam--no one has previously seen.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, happily have I shown you, by My internal potency, this supreme universal form within the material world. No one before you has ever seen this primal form, unlimited and full of glaring effulgence.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 46
kiritinam gadinam cakra-hastam
icchami tvam drastum aham tathaiva
tenaiva rupena catur-bhujena
sahasra-baho bhava visva-murte

kiritinam--with helmet; gadinam--with club; cakra-hastam--disc in hand; icchami--I wish; tvam--You; drastum--to see; aham--I; tatha eva--in that position; tena eva--in that; rupena--form; catuh-bhujena--four-handed; sahasra-baho--O thousand-handed one; bhava--just become; visva-murte--O universal form.

TRANSLATION

O universal form, O thousand-armed Lord, I wish to see You in Your four-armed form, with helmeted head and with club, wheel, conch and lotus flower in Your hands. I long to see You in that form.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 45
adrsta-purvam hrsito 'smi drstva
bhayena ca pravyathitam mano me
tad eva me darsaya deva rupam
prasida devesa jagan-nivasa

adrsta-purvam--never seen before; hrsitah--gladdened; asmi--I am; drstva--by seeing; bhayena--out of fear; ca--also; pravyathitam--perturbed; manah--mind; me--my; tat--that; eva--certainly; me--unto me; darsaya--show; deva--O Lord; rupam--the form; prasida- just be gracious; deva-isa--O Lord of lords; jagat-nivasa--O refuge of the universe.

TRANSLATION

After seeing this universal form, which I have never seen before, I am gladdened, but at the same time my mind is disturbed with fear. Therefore please bestow Your grace upon me and reveal again Your form as the Personality of Godhead, O Lord of lords, O abode of the universe.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 44
tasmat pranamya pranidhaya kayam
prasadaye tvam aham isam idyam
piteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuh
priyah priyayarhasi deva sodhum

tasmat--therefore; pranamya--offering obeisances; pranidhaya--laying down; kayam--the body; prasadaye--to beg mercy; tvam--unto You; aham--I; isam--unto the Supreme Lord; idyam--worshipable; pita iva--like a father; putrasya--with a son; sakha iva--like a friend; sakhyuh--with a friend; priyah--a lover; priya-yah--with the dearmost; arhasi--You should; deva--my Lord; sodhum--tolerate.

TRANSLATION

You are the Supreme Lord, to be worshiped by every living being. Thus I fall down to offer You my respectful obeisances and ask Your mercy. As a father tolerates the impudence of his son, or a friend tolerates the impertinence of a friend, or a wife tolerates the familiarity of her partner, please tolerate the wrongs I may have done You.

PURPORT

Krsna's devotees relate to Krsna in various relationships; one might treat Krsna as a son, or one might treat Krsna as a husband, as a friend, or as a master. Krsna and Arjuna are related in friendship. As the father tolerates, or the husband or a master tolerates, so Krsna tolerates.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 43
pitasi lokasya caracarasya
tvam asya pujyas ca gurur gariyan
na tvat-samo 'sty abhyadhikah kuto 'nyo
loka-traye 'py apratima-prabhava

pita--the father; asi--You are; lokasya--of all the world; cara--moving; acarasya--and nonmoving; tvam--You are; asya--of this; pujyah--worshipable; ca--also; guruh--master; gariyan--glorious; na--never; tvat-samah--equal to You; asti--there is; abhyadhikah--greater; kutah--how is it possible; anyah--other; loka-traye--in the three planetary systems; api--also; apratima-prabhava--O immeasurable power.

TRANSLATION

You are the father of this complete cosmic manifestation, of the moving and the nonmoving. You are its worshipable chief, the supreme spiritual master. No one is equal to You, nor can anyone be one with You. How then could there be anyone greater than You within the three worlds, O Lord of immeasurable power?

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 41-42
sakheti matva prasabham yad uktam
he krsna he yadava he sakheti
ajanata mahimanam tavedam
maya pramadat pranayena vapi

yac cavahasartham asat-krto 'si
vihara-sayyasana-bh ojanesu
eko 'tha vapy acyuta tat-samaksam
tat ksamaye tvam aham aprameyam

sakha--friend; iti--thus; matva--thinking; prasabham--presumptuously; yat--whatever; uktam--said; he krsna--O Krsna; he yadava--O Yadava; he sakhe--O my dear friend; iti--thus; aianata--without knowing; mahimanam--glories; tava--Your; idam--this; maya--by me; pramadat--out of foolishness; pranayena--out of love; va api--either; yat--whatever; ca--also; avahasa-artham--for joking; asat-krtah--dishonored; asi--You have been; vihara--in relaxation; sayya--in lying down; asana--in sitting; bhojanesu--or while eating together; ekah--alone; atha va--or; api--also; acyuta--O infallible one; tat-samaksam--among companions; tat--all those; ksamaye--ask forgiveness; tvam--from You; aham--I; aprameyam--immeasurable.

TRANSLATION

Thinking of You as my friend, I have rashly addressed You "O Krsna," "O Yadava," "O my friend," not knowing Your glories. Please forgive whatever I may have done in madness or in love. I have dishonored You many times, jesting as we relaxed, lay on the same bed, or sat or ate together, sometimes alone and sometimes in front of many friends. O infallible one, please excuse me for all those offenses.

PURPORT

Although Krsna is manifested before Arjuna in His universal form, Arjuna remembers his friendly relationship with Krsna and is therefore asking pardon and requesting Krsna to excuse him for the many informal gestures which arise out of friendship. He is admitting that formerly he did not know that Krsna could assume such a universal form, although Krsna explained it as his intimate friend. Arjuna did not know how many times he may have dishonored Krsna by addressing Him "O my friend," "O Krsna," "O Yadava," etc., without acknowledging His opulence. But Krsna is so kind and merciful that in spite of such opulence He played with Arjuna as a friend. Such is the transcendental loving reciprocation between the devotee and the Lord. The relationship between the living entity and Krsna is fixed eternally; it cannot be forgotten, as we can see from the behavior of Arjuna. Although Arjuna has seen the opulence in the universal form, he cannot forget his friendly relationship with Krsna.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 40
namah purastad atha prsthatas te
namo 'stu te sarvata eva sarva
ananta-viryamita-vikramas tvam
sarvam samapnosi tato 'si sarvah

namah--offering obeisances; purastat--from the front; atha--also; prsthatah--from behind; te--unto You; namah astu--I offer my respects; te--unto You; sarvatah--from all sides; eva--indeed; sarva--because You are everything; ananta-virya--unlimited potency; amita-vikramah--and unlimited force; tvam--You; sarvam--everything; samapnosi--You cover; tatah--therefore; asi--You are; sarvah--everything.

TRANSLATION

Obeisances to You from the front, from behind and from all sides! O unbounded power, You are the master of limitless might! You are all-pervading, and thus You are everything!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 39
vayur yamo 'gnir varunah sasankah
prajapatis tvam prapitamahas ca
namo namas te 'stu sahasra-krtvah
punas ca bhuyo 'pi namo namas te

vayuh--air; yamah--the controller; agnih--fire; varunah--water; sasa-ankah--the moon; prajapatih--Brahma; tvam--You; prapitamahah--the great-grandfather; ca--also; namah--my respects; namah--again my respects; te--unto You; astu--let there be; sahasra-krtvah--a thousand times; punah ca--and again; bhuyah--again; api--also; namah--offering my respects; namah te--offering my respects unto You.

TRANSLATION

You are air, and You are the supreme controller! You are fire, You are water, and You are the moon! You are Brahma, the first living creature, and You are the great-grandfather. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You a thousand times, and again and yet again!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 38
tvam adi-devah purusah puranas
tvam asya visvasya param nidhanam
vettasi vedyam ca param ca dhama
tvaya tatam visvam ananta-rupa

tvam--You; adi-devah--the original Supreme God; purusah--personality; puranah--old; tvam--You; asya--of this; visvasya--universe; param--transcendental; nidhanam--refuge; vetta--the knower; asi--You are; vedyam--the knowable; ca--and; param--transcendental; ca--and; dhama--refuge; tvaya--by You; tatam--pervaded; visvam--the universe; ananta-rupa--O unlimited form.

TRANSLATION

You are the original Personality of Godhead, the oldest, the ultimate sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world. You are the knower of everything, and You are all that is knowable. You are the supreme refuge, above the material modes. O limitless form! This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by You!

 JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada opens his purport with this beautiful statement; Everything is resting on the Supreme Personality of Godhead; therefore He is the ultimate rest. I find my late evening japa takes on this quality of rest very nicely.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 37
kasmac ca te na nameran mahatman
gariyase brahmano 'py adi-kartre
ananta devesa jagan-nivasa
tvam aksaram sad-asat tat param yat 

kasmat--why; ca--also; te--unto You; na--not; nameran--they should offer proper obeisances; maha-atman--O great one; gariyase--who are better; brahmanah--than Brahma; api--although; adi-kartre--to the supreme creator; ananta--O unlimited; deva-isa--O God of the gods; jagat-nivasa--O refuge of the universe; tvam--You are; aksaram--imperishable; sat-asat--to cause and effect; tat param--transcendental; yat--because.

TRANSLATION

O great one, greater even than Brahma, You are the original creator. Why then should they not offer their respectful obeisances unto You? O limitless one, God of gods, refuge of the universe! You are the invincible source, the cause of all causes, transcendental to this material manifestation.

JOURNAL:

Wow! What a prayer!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 36
arjuna uvaca
sthane hrsikesa tava prakirtya
jagat prahrsyaty anurajyate ca
raksamsi bhitani diso dravanti
sarve namasyanti ca siddha-sanghah

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; sthane--rightly; hrsika-isa--O master of all senses; tava--Your; prakirtya--by the glories; jagat--the entire world; prahrsyati--is rejoicing; anurajyate--is becoming attached; ca--and; raksamsi--the demons; bhitani--out of fear; disah--in all directions; dravanti--are fleeing; sarve--all; namasyanti--are offering respects; ca--also; siddha-sanghah--the perfect human beings.

TRANSLATION

Arjuna said: O master of the senses, the world becomes joyful upon hearing Your name, and thus everyone becomes attached to You. Although the perfected beings offer You their respectful homage, the demons are afraid, and they flee here and there. All this is rightly done.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 35
sanjaya uvaca
etac chrutva vacanam kesavasya
krtanjalir vepamanah kiriti
namaskrtva bhuya evaha krsnam
sa-gadgadam bhita-bhitah pranamya

sanjayah uvaca--Sanjaya said; etat--thus; srutva--hearing; vacanam--the speech; kesavasya--of Krsna; krta-anjalih--with folded hands; vepamanah--trembling; kiriti--Arjuna; namas-krtva--offering obeisances; bhuyah--again; eva--also; aha--said; krsnam--unto Krsna; sa-gadgadam--with a faltering voice; bhita-bhitah--fearful; pranamya--offering obeisances.

TRANSLATION

Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: O King, after hearing these words from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the trembling Arjuna offered obeisances with folded hands again and again. He fearfully spoke to Lord Krsna in a faltering voice, as follows.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 34
dronam ca bhismam cajayadratham ca
karnam tathanyan api yodha-viran
maya hatams tvam jahi ma vyathistha
yudhyasva jetasi rane sapatnan

dronam ca--also Drona; bhismam ca--also Bhisma; jayadratham ca--also Jayadratha; karnam--Karna; tatha--also; anyan--others; api--certainly; yodha-viran--great warriors; maya--by Me; hatan--already killed; tvam--you; jahi--destroy; ma--do not; vyathisthah--be disturbed; yudhyasva--just fight; jeta asi--you will conquer; rane--in the fight; sapatnan--enemies.

TRANSLATION

Drona, Bhisma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other great warriors have already been destroyed by Me. Therefore, kill them and do not be disturbed. Simply fight, and you will vanquish your enemies in battle.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 33
tasmat tvam uttistha yaso labhasva
jitva satrun bhunksva rajyam samrddham
mayaivaite nihatah purvam eva
nimitta-matram bhava savya-sacin

tasmat--therefore; tvam--you; uttistha--get up; yasah--fame; labhasva--gain; jitva--conquering; satrun--enemies; bhunksva--enjoy; rajyam--kingdom; samrddham--flourishing; maya--by Me; eva--certainly; ete--all these; nihatah--killed; purvam eva--by previous arrangement; nimitta-matram- just the cause; bhava--become; savya-sacin--O Savyasaci.

TRANSLATION

Therefore get up. Prepare to fight and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasaci, can be but an instrument in the fight.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada talks about the meaning of life in his purport; "Just become an instrument": nimitta-matram. This word is also very significant. The whole world is moving according to the plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. ... What is this plan? This cosmic manifestation is a chance for the conditioned souls to go back to Godhead, back to home.

I listened to a talk on this sloka by H.H. Jayadvaita Swami given on March 18, 2012, which I found most enlightening.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 11 Text 32
sri-bhagavan uvaca
kalo 'smi loka-ksaya-krt pravrddho
lokan samahartum iha pravrttah
rte 'pi tvam na bhavisyanti sarve
ye 'vasthitah pratyanikesu yodhah

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Personality of Godhead said; kalah--time; asmi--I am; loka--of the worlds; ksaya-krt--the destroyer; pravrddhah--great; lokan--all people; samahartum--in destroying; iha--in this world; pravrttah--engaged; rte--without, except for; api--even; tvam--you; na--never; bhavisyanti--will be; sarve--all; ye--who; avasthitah--situated; prati-anikesu--on the opposite sides; yodhah--the soldiers.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Time I am, the great destroyer of the worlds, and I have come here to destroy all people. With the exception of you [the Pandavas], all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain.

JOURNAL:

In his purport Srila Prabhupada writes; As stated in the Katha Upanisad (1.2.25),

yasya brahma ca ksatram ca
ubhe bhavata odanah
mrtyur yasyopasecanam
ka ittha veda yatra sah

Eventually all the brahmanas, ksatriyas and everyone else are devoured like a meal by the Supreme. This form of the Supreme Lord is the all-devouring giant, and here Krsna presents Himself in that form of all-devouring time.

We all grow old. For the first time in my life I have tendonitis. I may not be able to do the work I have done for thirty-five years. It scares me but I trust the Lord will sustain me until my time comes.