दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृश्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि। दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास।।11.25।।
daṁṣṭrākārālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvā eva kāla‑anala‑sannibhāni | diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda devo‑īśa jagat‑nivāsa
Translation
Having seen Your many mouths bearing Your terrible teeth, resembling the raging fire at the time of annihilation, I forget where I am and do not know where to go. O Lord of lords, You are the shelter of the universe; please have mercy on me.
Word Meanings
daṁṣṭrāḥ — teeth; karālāni — terrible; ca — also; te — Your; mukhāni — faces; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; eva — thus; kāla‑anala — fire of death; sannibhāni — as if; diśaḥ — directions; na — not; jāne — I know; na — not; labhe — I obtain; ca — and; śarma — grace; prasīda — be pleased; devo‑īśa — O Lord of lords; jagat‑nivāsa — O refuge of the worlds.
Understanding the Verse
In this powerful verse Arjuna, standing before the all‑encompassing Vishvarupa of Krishna, is overwhelmed by the sight of countless ferocious mouths filled with dreadful teeth. The "daṁṣṭrākārālāni" or terrible‑toothed faces are not ordinary but represent the innumerable aspects of creation that devour and transform. By likening them to "kāla‑anala" – the fire of time – the verse conveys that the cosmic form embodies the inexorable process of birth, death, and dissolution that time itself unleashes. This imagery shatters any ordinary perception of divinity; the divine is shown as both creator and destroyer, a force that can inspire awe and terror simultaneously.
Arjuna’s confession, "diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma," reveals his utter disorientation. He cannot locate himself in any direction, nor can he grasp any refuge. The cosmic vision has stripped away worldly bearings, making the pilgrim lose his sense of place and purpose. This loss is not merely geographical; it is a profound spiritual bewilderment where the seeker confronts the boundlessness of the divine and feels powerless in its vastness. Yet, amidst this fear, Arjuna’s plea, "prasīda devo‑īśa jagat‑nivāsa," underscores his enduring devotion. He seeks the Lord’s grace, recognizing that while the form may be terrifying, the underlying consciousness remains the protector of the universe.
The verse also invites contemplation on the duality inherent in the divine. The teeth signify the destructive aspect of the universe – the inevitability of karmic consequences – while the fire of time emphasizes that such destruction is part of a larger, purposeful cycle. By confronting these symbols, Arjuna learns that awe and reverence are not diminished by fear; rather, they deepen his understanding of the divine’s totality. The Lord’s request for mercy reminds readers that even when faced with the enormity of existence, humility and surrender open the path to divine compassion.
From a philosophical standpoint, this passage illustrates the Gita’s central teaching: the ultimate reality transcends human categories of good and bad, comfort and discomfort. The cosmic form is beyond duality, encompassing all experiences simultaneously. Arjuna’s humbled state serves as a model for seekers who, upon confronting the mysteries of the self and the cosmos, must turn to the divine for guidance and solace. The verse thus becomes a bridge between the terrifying vastness of the divine and the intimate mercy that the deity offers to those who surrender.
