HomeBhagavad GitaCh. 11Shloka 25
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Shloka 25

Vishwarupa Darshana YogaVishwarupa Darshana Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 25 illustration

दंष्ट्राकरालानि च ते मुखानि दृष्ट्वैव कालानलसन्निभानि । दिशो न जाने न लभे च शर्म प्रसीद देवेश जगन्निवास ॥

daṃṣṭrā-karālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvaiva kālānala-sannibhāni | diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa ||

ครั้นเห็นพระพักตร์ของพระองค์อันน่ากลัวด้วยเขี้ยว ดุจไฟแห่งกาลเวลา ข้าพเจ้าหลงทิศ ไม่อาจพบความร่มเย็นได้ โปรดเมตตาเถิด โอ้พระผู้เป็นจอมเทพ ผู้เป็นที่พำนักแห่งโลก

Seeing Your mouths with formidable teeth, like the fire of time, I lose my sense of direction and find no comfort. Be gracious, O Lord of the gods, abode of the world.

Having seen your mouths, terrifying with teeth, resembling the conflagration of time, I do not know the directions and I do not find ease. Show favor, O lord of gods, dwelling-place of the world.

kālānala (‘time-fire’) is often read as an image of impermanence and cosmic dissolution. The verse can be interpreted as an existential confrontation with mortality and change rather than a literal threat.

दंष्ट्रा-करालानि(the) tusk-terrible (ones)
दंष्ट्रा-करालानि:
Karma
Rootदंष्ट्रा + कराल
and
:
Root
तेyour
ते:
Rootत्वद्
मुखानिfaces; mouths
मुखानि:
Karma
Rootमुख
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
Root√दृश्
एवindeed; just
एव:
Rootएव
काल-अनल-सन्निभानिresembling the fire of Time (death)
काल-अनल-सन्निभानि:
Karma
Rootकाल + अनल + सन्निभ
दिशःdirections
दिशः:
Karma
Rootदिश्
not
:
Root
जानेI know
जाने:
Karta
Root√ज्ञा
not
:
Root
लभेI obtain; I find
लभे:
Karta
Root√लभ्
and
:
Root
शर्मpeace; comfort; refuge
शर्म:
Karma
Rootशर्मन्
प्रसीदbe gracious; be pleased
प्रसीद:
Root√सद् (प्र + √सद्)
देव-ईशO Lord of the gods
देव-ईश:
Rootदेव + ईश
जगत्-निवासO abode of the universe
जगत्-निवास:
Rootजगत् + निवास
Arjuna
Kāla (time)Anitya (impermanence)Grace (prasāda)Existential disorientation
Time as ultimate powerPrayer for reassuranceHuman finitude before cosmic processes

FAQs

Losing ‘sense of direction’ is a metaphor for disorientation under stress; the plea ‘prasīda’ shows a turn toward relational coping—seeking reassurance from a trusted source of meaning.

The imagery of ‘time-fire’ suggests that the divine encompasses transformative processes (arising and passing), integrating creation and dissolution within one reality.

This is a pivot from witnessing to supplication, foreshadowing Arjuna’s desire to return from the cosmic vision to a more personal, approachable form.

It can be read as a response to impermanence: acknowledging anxiety about change while seeking steadiness through ethical practice, reflection, or faith.