adṛṣṭa-pūrvaḿ hṛṣito ’smi dṛṣṭvā
bhayena ca pravyathitaḿ mano me
tad eva me darśaya deva rūpaḿ
prasīda deveśa jagan-nivāsa
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 11.45
After seeing this universal form, which I have never seen before, I am gladdened, but at the same time my mind is disturbed with fear. Therefore please bestow Your grace upon me and reveal again Your form as the Personality of Godhead, O Lord of lords, O abode of the universe.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Arjuna is always in confidence with Krishna because he is a very dear friend, and as a dear friend is gladdened by his friend’s opulence, Arjuna is very joyful to see that his friend Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and can show such a wonderful universal form. But at the same time, after seeing that universal form, he is afraid that he has committed so many offenses to Krishna out of his unalloyed friendship. Thus his mind is disturbed out of fear, although he had no reason to fear. Arjuna therefore is asking Krishna to show His Narayana form, because He can assume any form. This universal form is material and temporary, as the material world is temporary. But in the Vaikuntha planets He has His transcendental form with four hands as Narayana. There are innumerable planets in the spiritual sky, and in each of them Krishna is present by His plenary manifestations of different names. Thus Arjuna desired to see one of the forms manifest in the Vaikuntha planets. Of course in each Vaikuntha planet the form of Narayana is four-handed, but the four hands hold different arrangements of symbols—the conchshell, mace, lotus and disc. According to the different hands these four things are held in, the Narayanas are variously named. All of these forms are one with Krishna; therefore Arjuna requests to see His four-handed feature.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Though I am delighted, having seen your body composed of the form of the universe which has not been previously seen, my mind is distressed with fear because of its ferocity. Therefore, show me that form (tad eva rupa), the form of the son of Vasudeva, the form of sweetness, which is millions of times dearer to my life. Show favor to me—do not display to me that form of great power any longer. I have now seen you as the Lord of the devatas (devesa), the resting place of the universe (jagan nivasah). It should be understood that Arjuna did not see the body of Krishna in human form which was the origin of all the forms seen by Arjuna, when Krishna displayed the universal form, because his vision was covered by yoga maya.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
11.45 Seeing Your form, never seen before, extremely marvellous and awe-inspiring, I am delighted, transported with love. But my mind is also troubled with awe. Hence reveal to me only Your most gracious form. Be gracious, O Lord of all gods! O Abode of the universe! Show me that form, O gracious Lord of all the gods headed by Brahma, and the foundation of the entire universe!
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
Having humbly beseeched Lord Krishna for full forgiveness, Arjuna now reveals his heart in this verse and the next explaining that by seeing the visvarupa or divine universal form, that had never been seen before and which possesses unlimited grandeur and power he was ovejoyed and thrilled but at the same time his mind was agitated and disturbed by the fearful aspect of it. Feeling trepidation Arjuna requests Lord Krishna to please revert back to the human looking form of his friend that he is accustomed to always seeing.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
After humbly beseeching forgiveness for any past indiscretions he may have incurred and observing that Lord Krishna was not displeased, Arjuna confesses that although the visvarupa or divine universal form was wonderful to behold the terrifying aspect of it caused him to be fearful and agitated. So he requests Lord Krishna to revert back to the form by which he is familiar with to placate his mind and raise his spirits.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
11.45 Asmi, I am; hrsitah, delighted; drstva, by seeing; adrsta-purvam, something not seen heretofore-by seeing this Cosmic form of Yours which has never been seen before by me or others. And me, my; manah, mind; is pravyathitam, stricken; bhayena, with fear. Therefore, deva, O Lord; darsaya, show; me, to me; tat eva, that very; rupam, form, which is of my friend. Devesa, O supreme God; jagan-nivasa, Abode of the Universe; prasida, be gracious!
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
11.45 Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
adrsta-purvam hrsito ’smi drstva
bhayena ca pravyathitam mano me
tad eva me darsaya deva rupam
prasida devesa jagan-nivasa
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
adṛṣṭa-pūrvam — never seen before; hṛṣitaḥ — gladdened; asmi — I am; dṛṣṭvā — by seeing; bhayena — out of fear; ca — also; pravyathitam — perturbed; manaḥ — mind; me — my; tat — that; eva — certainly; me — unto me; darśaya — show; deva — O Lord; rūpam — the form; prasīda — just be gracious; deva-īśa — O Lord of lords; jagat-nivāsa — O refuge of the universe.
