divi sūrya-sahasrasya
bhaved yugapad utthitā
yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syād
bhāsas tasya mahātmanaḥ
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 11.12
If hundreds of thousands of suns were to rise at once into the sky, their radiance might resemble the effulgence of the Supreme Person in that universal form.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
What Arjuna saw was indescribable, yet Sanjaya is trying to give a mental picture of that great revelation to Dhritarashtra. Neither Sanjaya nor Dhritarashtra was present, but Sanjaya, by the grace of Vyasa, could see whatever happened. Thus he now compares the situation, as far as it can be understood, to an imaginable phenomenon (i.e., thousands of suns).
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
If at one time the effulgence (bhah) of a thousand suns arose, then it would be somewhat similar to the effulgence (bhasah) of the universal form (mahatmanah).
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
11.12 This is for illustrating that His splendour is infinite. The meaning is that it is of the nature of inexhaustible radiance.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
The unparalleled and incomparable nature of the Supreme Lord Krishna’s visvarupa or divine universal form is now being stated. The effulgence of this universal form is being compared to the simultaneous rising of surya- sahasrasya or 1000 suns. This is to give a general idea of the magnificent splendour Lord Krishna’s phenomenal universal form manifested. This affirms that there is nothing else to compare with the visvarupa in the material existence and gives the evidence from what was exhibited in verse nine.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
The word sahasraya means thousand but can literally be taken to be innumerable as 1000 suns simultaneously rising in the sky would be uncountable. Like the thousands of heroic deeds of the avatars of Lord Krishna, this statement is made for elucidation of the resplendent splendour of the visvarupa or divine universal form. In the Rig Veda is stated: The Supreme Lord of eternal power and eternal energy is of eternal brilliance even easily exceeding the sun. This comparison is based on the conclusive evidence of the Vedic scriptures and it is of no avail to try to compare it to anything else.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
Now the effulgence of Lord Krishna’s visvarupa or divine universal form is being described. The word divi means in the firmament. If in the heavens a thousand suns burst forth simultaneously all at once it could give an indication of the dazzling radiance and splendour the universal form and no other comparison is suitable. As 1000 suns rising simultaneously cannot be envisioned except by imagination and is practically an impossible reality it is difficult to envision. Thus the comparison infers that the universal form is beyond compare to anything ever seen or imagined.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
11.12 Should the bhah, effulgence; surya-sahasrasya, of a thousand suns; utthita bhavet, blaze forth; yugapat, simultaneously; divi, in the sky, or in heaven which is the third as counted (from this earth);sa, that; yadi syat, might be-or it might not be-; sadrsi, similar; to the bhasah, radiance; tasya, of that; mahat-manah, exalted One, the Cosmic Person Himself. The idea is that the brillinace of the Cosmic Person surely excels even this! Further,
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
11.12 Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
divi surya-sahasrasya
bhaved yugapad utthita
yadi bhah sadrsi sa syad
bhasas tasya mahatmanah
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
divi — in the sky; surya — of suns; sahasrasya — of many thousands; bhavet — there were; yugapat — simultaneously; utthita — present; yadi — if; bha? — light; sad?si — like that; sa — that; syat — might be; bhasa? — effulgence; tasya — of Him; maha-atmana? — the great Lord.
