तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेः। विस्मयो मे महान् राजन् हृष्यामि च पुनः पुनः।।18.77।।
tac ca saṁsmṛtya saṁsmṛtya rūpam atī adbhutaṁ hareḥ | vismayaḥ me mahān rājān hṛṣyāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ ||
Translation
And remembering that most astonishing and wonderful cosmic form of Lord Krishna, great is my astonishment, and I am thrilled with joy over and over again.
Word Meanings
tat — that; ca — also; saṁsmṛtya — remembering; saṁsmṛtya — remembering; rūpam — form; ati — greatly; adbhutaḥ — wonderful; hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; vismayaḥ — wonder; me — my; mahān — great; rājan — O King; hṛṣyāmi — I am enjoying; ca — also; punaḥ punaḥ — repeatedly.
Understanding the Verse
In this concluding verse of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna expresses his profound emotional response after having beheld the divine universal form (Viṣṇu‑mahā‑rūpa) of Lord Krishna. The verse is placed in Chapter 18, the final chapter, which summarizes the teachings on duty (dharma), action (karma), and the nature of the self (ātman).
The repeated phrase "संस्मृत्य" (saṁsmṛtya) emphasizes the act of continual remembrance. Arjuna does not merely recall the vision once; he repeatedly brings it before his mind, indicating that the experience is not a fleeting glimpse but an ongoing, meditative engagement with the Divine. This aligns with the Gita’s broader message that the realization of God’s supreme form must be integrated into daily consciousness, transforming the devotee's perception of reality.
The adjectives "अत्यद्भुतं" (ati‑adbhutaṁ) — "most astonishing" — and "विस्मयो" (vismayaḥ) — "wonder" — convey an intensity of awe that surpasses ordinary perception. Arjuna’s astonishment is not merely intellectual; it is a visceral, emotional reaction that shakes his very being. The text highlights that the experience of the Divine is both glorious and humbling, provoking a mixture of reverence and joy.
The address "राजन्" (rājān) refers to Lord Krishna, who is often identified as the sovereign ruler of the cosmos. By calling him "king," Arjuna acknowledges Krishna’s supreme authority over the material and spiritual realms, reinforcing the hierarchical relationship where the devotee bows before the Divine ruler.
The phrase "हृष्यामि च पुनः पुनः" (hṛṣyāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ) — "I am thrilled with joy again and again" — describes the oscillation between awe and bliss. This duality reflects the Gita’s teaching that true knowledge (jnana) is accompanied by rasa — devotional ecstasy. The repeated joy underscores that the realization of divine truth continually renews the devotee’s sense of happiness, fostering a perpetual state of spiritual elation.
From a philosophical perspective, this verse illustrates the culmination of the three‑fold path: karma‑yoga (action), bhakti‑yoga (devotion), and jnana‑yoga (knowledge). Arjuna’s remembrance (smṛti) is an act of bhakti, yet it also reinforces his understanding (jnana) of Krishna’s all‑pervasive nature, which in turn directs his future actions (karma) according to divine will. Thus, the verse encapsulates the integrated practice advocated throughout the Gita.
In practical terms, the verse invites modern readers to cultivate a habit of remembering the divine presence in everyday life, allowing the wonder of the supreme form to invigorate their spiritual journey repeatedly. By doing so, one can transform fleeting moments of awe into a sustained source of inner joy and purpose, echoing Arjuna’s ecstatic exclamation.
