evam etad yathāttha tvam
ātmānaḿ parameśvara
draṣṭum icchāmi te rūpam
aiśvaraḿ puruṣottama
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 11.3
O greatest of all personalities, O supreme form, though I see You here before me in Your actual position, as You have described Yourself, I wish to see how You have entered into this cosmic manifestation. I want to see that form of Yours.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
The Lord said that because He entered into the material universe by His personal representation, the cosmic manifestation has been made possible and is going on. Now as far as Arjuna is concerned, he is inspired by the statements of Krishna, but in order to convince others in the future who may think that Krishna is an ordinary person, Arjuna desires to see Him actually in His universal form, to see how He is acting from within the universe, although He is apart from it. Arjuna’s addressing the Lord as purushottama is also significant. Since the Lord is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is present within Arjuna himself; therefore He knows the desire of Arjuna, and He can understand that Arjuna has no special desire to see Him in His universal form, for Arjuna is completely satisfied to see Him in His personal form of Krishna. But the Lord can understand also that Arjuna wants to see the universal form to convince others. Arjuna did not have any personal desire for confirmation. Krishna also understands that Arjuna wants to see the universal form to set a criterion, for in the future there would be so many imposters who would pose themselves as incarnations of God. The people, therefore, should be careful; one who claims to be Krishna should be prepared to show his universal form to confirm his claim to the people.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Whatever you have said about yourself, such as “I am supporting the whole universe by one of my portions,” is indeed true (evam etad). I do not have any doubt about it. But still, desiring to be fully satisfied, 1 desire to see that form displaying your powers. I now want to see, with my eyes, that fragmental form of yours by which you support this world.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
11.3 O Supreme Lord, it is certain that it is even as you have described Yourself. O Supreme Person, O ocean of compassion for your dependants! I, however, wish to see or wish to realise directly, Your Lordly form peculiar to you — the form as the sovereign, protector, creator, destroyer, supporter of all, the mine of auspicious attributes, supreme and distinct from all other entities.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
The Supreme Lord Krishna is being requested to show His visvarupa or divine universal form only if He thinks it is appropriate; not because Arjuna is curious to see it. The Supreme Lord is being asked in a mood of humility to reveal His transcendental universal form and thus will consider showing it.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
The Supreme Lord Krishna is being requested to show His visvarupa or divine universal form only if He thinks it is appropriate; not because Arjuna is curious to see it. The Supreme Lord is being asked in a mood of humility to reveal His transcendental universal form and thus will consider showing it.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
It may be wondered that if the great sages, liberated beings and the demigods are unable to the Supreme Lord Krishna’s visvarupa or divine universal form. How will it be possible for Arjuna to see such a form. This is why Arjuna states the words manyase yada which means if you consider. If Lord Krishna considers that Arjuna who is His surrendered devotee is capable of beholding His universal form which encompasses the total creation then by the Supreme Lord’s grace He can reveal it. Lord Krishna is addressed by him as Yogesvara or the lord of yogis perfected in the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness. By the Supreme Lord’s grace one can achieve the path leading to spiritual perfection which is one’s highest good and without the Supreme Lord’s grace no path is capable of yielding spiritual perfection. Arjuna is inferring that due to being fully devoted to Lord Krishna he can witness this supreme form.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
11.3 Parama-isvara, O supreme Lord; evam, so; etat, it is-not otherwise; yatha, as; tvam, You; attha, speak; atmanam, about Yourself. Still, purusottama, O supreme Person; iccahmi, I wish; drastum, to see; the aisvaram, divine; rupam, form; te, of Yours, of Visnu, endowed with Knowledge, Sovereignty, Power, Strength, Valour and Formidability.
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
11.3 Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
evam etad yathattha tvam
atmanam paramesvara
drastum icchami te rupam
aisvaram purusottama
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
evam — thus; etat — this; yathā — as it is; āttha — have spoken; tvam — You; ātmānam — Yourself; parama-īśvara — O Supreme Lord; draṣṭum — to see; icchāmi — I wish; te — Your; rūpam — form; aiśvaram — divine; puruṣa-uttama — O best of personalities.
