Shloka 24

Puruṣottama-yoga

The Discipline of the Supreme Person) — Chapter 15 (Bhagavadgītā

Devanagari script

नभ:स्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्ण व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम्‌ दृष्टवा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णोः

Transliteration

nabhaḥ-spṛśaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁ vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viśāla-netram | dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntarātmā dhṛtiṁ na vindāmi śamaṁ ca viṣṇoḥ ||

Translation

Seeing You—towering to the very sky, blazing, of many hues, with gaping mouths and vast, radiant eyes—my inmost self is shaken with dread. O Viṣṇu, I can find neither steadiness of mind nor peace.

Word by Word

नभःस्पृशम्touching the sky

दीप्तम्blazing, radiant

अनेकवर्णम्of many colors

व्यात्ताननम्with gaping mouth

दीप्तविशालनेत्रम्with blazing, huge eyes

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

हिindeed, for

त्वाम्you

प्रव्यथितान्तरात्माwhose inner self is greatly shaken

धृतिम्steadiness, composure

नnot

विन्दामिI find, I obtain

शमम्calm, tranquility

चand

विष्णोःO Vishnu

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Viṣṇu (addressed to Kṛṣṇa as the divine Lord)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and spiritual shock that can arise when finite human courage meets the infinite. Arjuna’s loss of calm shows that true dharma is not mere battlefield bravery; it requires inner steadiness and surrender when confronted with realities beyond ordinary moral calculation.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Kṛṣṇa reveals the cosmic form (viśvarūpa), Arjuna beholds a sky-reaching, blazing, multicolored vision with gaping mouths and radiant eyes. Overwhelmed by awe and fear, he confesses that his heart trembles and he cannot find mental firmness or peace, addressing the Lord as Viṣṇu.