अर्जुन उवाच पश्यामि देवांस्तव देव देहे सर्वांस्तथा भूतविशेषसङ्घान्। ब्रह्माणमीशं कमलासनस्थ मृषींश्च सर्वानुरगांश्च दिव्यान्।।11.15।।
arjuna uvaca paSyAmi devAn tva deva dehe sarvAn tathA bhUta vishesha sanghan brahmANam Isham kamalAsana sthaM rShiM cha sarva uragAn cha divyan
Translation
Arjuna said: O Lord, I see in Your body all the demigods, as well as the assembled hosts of various living beings. I behold Brahma seated on the lotus throne, Shiva, all the sages, the celestial serpents, and the divine beings.
Word Meanings
arjunaḥ uvāca — Arjuna said; paśyāmi — I see; devān — all the demigods; tava — your; deva — O Lord; dehe — in the body; sarvāṁ — all; tathā — also; bhūta‑viśeṣa‑saṅghān — specially assembled beings; brahmāṇam — Lord Brahmā; īśaṁ — Lord Śiva; kamala‑āsana‑sthaḥ — seated on the lotus throne; ṛṣīṁś — sages; ca — also; sarvā — all; uragān — serpents; ca — also; divyān — divine
Understanding the Verse
In this awe‑inspiring moment of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna, who has just witnessed the universal form (Viṣṇu‑Rūpa) of the Divine, expresses his vision in words that convey both reverence and wonder. The verse begins with Arjuna’s declaration, 'arjunaḥ uvāca', indicating his active participation in the divine dialogue. By saying 'paśyāmi', he affirms that the sight is not a mental construct but a direct, vivid perception.
Arjuna’s observation that he sees 'devān', the demigods, within Krishna’s body underscores the theological principle that the Supreme manifests all celestial powers within Himself. The term 'tava deva dehe' (your divine body) conveys that Krishna’s physical form is a microcosm containing the macrocosmic hierarchy of gods. This aligns with the Vedantic view that the Absolute encompasses all manifestations, rendering the distinction between creator and creation illusory.
The mention of 'sarvāṁ tathā bhūta‑viśeṣa‑saṅghān' expands the vision beyond the higher beings to include all assembled living entities—humans, animals, and myriad forms of life. It indicates that the Supreme sustains the entire spectrum of existence, integrating every living being into His divine essence. The verse then specifically calls out 'brahmāṇam īśam', identifying Brahmā, the creator aspect, seated on the lotus—'kamala‑āsana‑sthaḥ'—a symbol of purity and transcendence. The lotus throne situates Brahmā within the cosmic hierarchy yet emphasizes that even the topmost creator is subsumed in the Supreme’s form.
Further, Arjuna sees 'ṛṣīṁś ca', the great sages who represent spiritual knowledge and the path of realization. Their presence signifies that the highest wisdom is also an integral part of the Supreme. The term 'sarvā uragān ca' brings in the celestial serpents, serpent beings often associated with mystic energy (kundalini) and the subtle realms. Finally, 'divyān' encapsulates all divine beings, indicating that the vision includes the full pantheon of celestial and subtle forces.
Overall, this verse serves as a profound theological statement: the Divine is not a distant, abstract principle but the living, breathing totality of all existence. By perceiving this totality, Arjuna’s consciousness expands from the limited individual self to the universal Self, paving the way for the deeper teachings that follow in the chapter about devotion, surrender, and the realization of one's true nature as part of the infinite divine consciousness.
