Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

  1. 1Tap a chapter, then a verse
  2. 2Read what it means
  3. 3Try the practice
700 verses37 detailed
Or browse by chapter
Chapter

Chapter 11 · The Universal Form · 55 verses

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Bhakti & surrenderChapter 11 · The Universal Form
11.5111.53

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 11.52

Pure devotion and personal realization

श्रीभगवानुवाच

सुदुर्दर्शमिदं रूपं दृष्टवानसि यन्मम ।

देवा अप्यस्य रूपस्य नित्यं दर्शनकाङ्‍‍क्षिण: ॥ ५२ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

su-durdarśam idaṁ rūpaṁ

dṛṣṭavān asi yan mama

devā apy asya rūpasya

nityaṁ darśana-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, this form of Mine you are now seeing is very difficult to behold. Even the demigods are ever seeking the opportunity to see this form, which is so dear.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Kṛṣṇa’s Dear Personal Form

  1. 1Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna that His form is very difficult to see; even the demigods always long to see it.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa’s two-handed form is completely spiritual and even harder to see than His universal form. He is seen only when He reveals Himself.
  3. 3Hear about Kṛṣṇa repeatedly from spiritual authorities and serve Him with devotion, so He becomes dear to you.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 11, The Universal Form: pure devotion and personal realization.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Loving service and surrender to Kṛṣṇa.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 11.52 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?

Practice

Offer one act today with devotion.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 11 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 11.53Pure devotion and personal realizationBG 11.54Pure devotion and personal realizationBG 3.30Offer every action to KrishnaBG 6.47The highest yogi is devoted

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 11.52 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.