Bhagavad Gita

Arjuna said:

Verse 1.    By the Supremely profound words regarding the secret wisdom of the true Self that have been spoken by You out of grace (kindness, compassion) towards me, this my delusion (ignorance, bewilderment, illusion) has disappeared.

    This is an important chapter. The Bhagavad Gita is a poem with a profound meaning, and the Eleventh Chapter is the most poetic of all. These verses give an unparallel description of the Universal Form of Spirit. Everything in the Universe holds a special place in the conformation of the Cosmic Image. Often are these verses sung in worship in India. Their vibratory blessing awakens a thrill in the devotee, stirring memories of Truth-realization in the inner sanctum of the Soul.

    It is hard indeed, for a mortal to cognize at once the entire Universe in one Reality, the Self. This is only possible with an “eye” of Spiritual Knowledge. In this chapter, Vyasa has used the Sanskrit language in the expression of his masterpiece. In the dignity of concept, in the beauty of diction, in the artistry of its depiction, and in its inner stream of drama, this chapter has been rightly upheld by all as one of the highest philosophical poems in the world’s treasure-house of sacred books.

    Up to this point, Arjuna had accepted by faith the sacred revelations, but now he has attained the Yogi’s goal – direct experience of Deity. Arjuna tells Krishna, “My delusion is gone”. Does this mean that the Gita has ended? No! Krishna’s love for Arjuna is still continuing. Chapters 1-10 were basically a “discourse”, while in Chapters 11-18, we have an expression of Krishna’s love for Arjuna.

    The wondrous experience of Divine Consciousness is figuratively presented in this chapter. Arjuna gets an opportunity to behold the Cosmic Form of Krishna. The central teaching of this chapter is that an aspirant should be empty of his ego. It is in the depths of surrender that his Soul, rising above the normal limits of time and space, glimpses the staggering vision of God, which is at once supremely beautiful and terrifying.

Verse 2.    Of Thee, O lotus-eyed (Krishna), I have heard at length, of the creation (evolution, origin) and destruction (dissolution, end) of beings, as also Thy inexhaustible (Immortal, Imperishable) Glory (Greatness).

    In Chapter 10, Krishna had assured Arjuna that “I am the source of the appearance and disappearance of this entire manifestation”. And yet, a doubt remains in Arjuna’s mind, which can only be removed when his intellect is convinced by a confident knowledge arising out of an actually observed demonstration. In this chapter, out of sheer kindness, Krishna condescends to show Arjuna the Form of the Cosmic-Man, because the disciple has demanded that he must see it.

Verse 3.    O Supreme Lord (Krishna), You are precisely what You declare Yourself to be. (Still) I desire to see Your Ishvara-Form (Divine Form, Godly Form, Cosmic Manifestation), O Supreme Purusha (Krishna).

    The