Bhagavad Gita — Vishwarupa Darshana Yoga, Shloka 21

Vishwarupa Darshana Yoga

Devanagari script

अमी हि त्वां सुरसंघा विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति । स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसंघाः स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ॥

Transliteration

amī hi tvāṃ sura-saṅghā viśanti kecid bhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti | svastīty uktvā maharṣi-siddha-saṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṃ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ ||

Translation

ਇਹ ਦੇਵ-ਸਮੂਹ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਵੇਸ਼ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਕੁਝ ਡਰ-ਭਕਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਹੱਥ ਜੋੜ ਕੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਸਤੁਤੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ‘ਸ੍ਵਸ੍ਤੀ’ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਮਹਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੱਧ-ਸਮੂਹ ਪ੍ਰਚੁਰ ਸਤੁਤੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਸਤਵਨ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ।

Gita Press Meaning

These hosts of gods enter into You; some, in awe, praise You with joined hands. Saying ‘svasti’ (well-being), the groups of great seers and perfected beings extol You with abundant hymns.

Critical Edition Meaning

For these companies of deities enter you; some, awestruck, recite praises with folded hands. Having uttered ‘svasti,’ the assemblies of great sages and siddhas laud you with copious eulogies.

Comparative Note

bhītāḥ is often translated ‘afraid,’ but in this context it frequently denotes reverential awe before the numinous. viśanti (‘enter’) can be understood as participation/absorption imagery rather than a physical scene.

Word by Word

• अमी: these (those here)
• अमी: Karta
• Root: अदस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• हि: indeed / for
• Root: हि

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)

• सुर-सङ्घाः: hosts of gods
• सुर-सङ्घाः: Karta
• Root: सुर + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)

• विशन्ति: enter
• Root: √विश्

• केचित्: some (certain ones)
• केचित्: Karta
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)

• भीताः: frightened
• Root: √भी (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)

• प्राञ्जलयः: with joined palms
• प्राञ्जलयः: Karta
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)

• गृणन्ति: praise / sing (your glories)
• Root: √गॄ (स्तुति/कीर्तनार्थे)

• स्वस्ति: well-being / auspiciousness
• Root: स्वस्ति

• इति: thus
• Root: इति

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Root: √वच् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त)

• महर्षि-सिद्ध-सङ्घाः: hosts of great seers and perfected beings
• महर्षि-सिद्ध-सङ्घाः: Karta
• Root: महर्षि + सिद्ध + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)

• स्तुवन्ति: praise
• Root: √स्तु

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)

• स्तुतिभिः: with hymns / praises
• स्तुतिभिः: Karana
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)

• पुष्कलाभिः: abundant / copious
• Root: पुष्कला (प्रातिपदिक)

Speakers

• Arjuna

Primary Concepts

• Devotion (stuti)
• Awe/reverence
• Siddha and Ṛṣi as spiritual archetypes
• Participation in the Absolute

Key Themes

• Cosmic worship
• Hierarchy of beings within the vision
• Reverential speech as response to ultimacy

FAQs

Psychological significance?

The verse portrays multiple affective responses—reverent trembling, prayer, and praise—suggesting that intense experiences can evoke both fear-like arousal and devotion.

Metaphysical meaning?

If ‘entering’ is read symbolically, it indicates that finite powers (deities) are grounded in, and return to, a more comprehensive reality.

Contextual relevance?

Arjuna’s vision includes not only the divine form but also other revered beings, reinforcing the claim that the revelation is cosmically authoritative.

Modern Application?

It highlights the role of communal language—blessings and praise—in stabilizing meaning during overwhelming events.