amī hi tvāḿ sura-sańghā viśanti
kecid bhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti
svastīty uktvā maharṣi-siddha-sańghāḥ
stuvanti tvāḿ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 11.21
All the hosts of demigods are surrendering before You and entering into You. Some of them, very much afraid, are offering prayers with folded hands. Hosts of great sages and perfected beings, crying “All peace!” are praying to You by singing the Vedic hymns.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
The demigods in all the planetary systems feared the terrific manifestation of the universal form and its glaring effulgence and so prayed for protection.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Tva stands for tvam.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
11.21 These hosts of superior Devas beholding You as the foundation of the universe, rejoice and move towards You. Among them, some in fear, on seeing Your extremely terrible and wonderful form, ‘extol,’ namely pronounce sentences in the form of praise, according to their knowledge. Others, the bands of seers and Siddhas, knowers of the truth, higher and lower, saying ‘Hail,’ glorify You in hymns of abounding praise which are suitable to the Lord.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
Verily the hosts of demigods feeling aggrieved are entering Lord Krishna’s visvarupa taking refuge. The liberated sages and perfected beings are offering superb prayers praising the Supreme Lords glories with svasti iti uktva meaning all auspiciousness throughout creation.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
The descriptions of the afflictions which were experienced is iterated in this verse and the next two. All creation was greatly alarmed by the fiery all pervading aspect of Lord Krishna’s visvarupa or divine universal form which appeared terrifying and frightening. The demigods being direct servitors of the Supreme Lord functioning in the capacity of universal management approached Him for shelter while others of them being frightened stayed a far distance and with folded palms offered prayers of supplication. Hosts of exalted sages and perfected beings could be heard shouting Jaya! Jaya! All glory! All glory! Observing the unlimited faces of the visvarupa with their mouths emitting blazing fire like the devastating inferno at the time of universal destruction. Benevolently these enlightened and liberated sages chanted svastity meaning may all be auspicious and extolled the Supreme Lord with excellent hymns describing His greatness and choice prayers praising His glories entreating Him to protect all creation.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
11.21 Ami hi, those very; sura-sanghah, groups of gods, the soldiers engaged in battle-groups of gods such as the Vasus who have descended here in the form of human beings for eliminating the burden of the earth; visanti, enter-are seen to be entering; tvam, You. Bhitah, struck with fear, and unable to flee; kecit, some among them; grnanti, extol You; pranjalayah, with their palms joined. Maharsi-siddha [Siddha: A semi-divine being supposed to be of great purity and holiness, and said to be particularly characterized by eight supernatural faculties called siddhis.-V.S.A.]-sanghah, groups of great sages and perfected beings; seeing protents foreboding evil, etc. as the battle became imminent; stuvanti, praise; tvam, You; puskalabhih, with elaborate, full; stutibhih, hymns; uktva, saying; ‘svasti iti, May it be well!’ And further,
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment on this sloka.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
ami hi tvam sura-sangha visanti
kecid bhitah prañjalayo grnanti
svastity uktva maharsi-siddha-sanghah
stuvanti tvam stutibhih puskalabhih
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
amī — all those; hi — certainly; tvām — You; sura-sańghāḥ — groups of demigods; viśanti — are entering; kecit — some of them; bhītāḥ — out of fear; prāñjalayaḥ — with folded hands; gṛṇanti — are offering prayers; svasti — all peace; iti — thus; uktvā — speaking; mahā-ṛṣi — great sages; siddha-sańghāḥ — perfect beings; stuvanti — are singing hymns; tvām — unto You; stutibhiḥ — with prayers; puṣkalābhiḥ — Vedic hymns.
