Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Verse 20 Meaning

This space between the earth and the heavens, and all the quarters, is filled by You alone; having seen this, Your wonderful and terrible form, the three worlds are trembling with fear, O great-souled Being.

BG 11.20

द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः। दृष्ट्वाऽद्भुतं रूपमुग्रं तवेदं लोकत्रयं प्रव्यथितं महात्मन्

dyāv ā-pṛithivyor idam antaraṁ hi vyāptaṁ tvayaikena diśhaśh cha sarvāḥ dṛiṣhṭvādbhutaṁ rūpam ugraṁ tavedaṁ loka-trayaṁ pravyathitaṁ mahātman

Meaning

This space between the earth and the heavens, and all the quarters, is filled by You alone; having seen this, Your wonderful and terrible form, the three worlds are trembling with fear, O great-souled Being.

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What Does Bhagavad Gita 11.20 Mean?

This verse carries the weight of lived truth. This space between the earth and the heavens, and all the quarters, is filled by You alone; having seen this, Your wonderful and terrible form, the three worlds are trembling with fear, O great-souled In the context of witnessing the totality of creation, preservation, and destruction in the Divine, these words illuminate the principle of divine awe from a perspective that complements the surrounding verses.

The verse operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it addresses Arjuna's immediate situation. At a deeper level, it articulates a universal principle about cosmic vision that applies to every person navigating the complexities of moral and spiritual life. For the modern practitioner, this verse suggests a concrete experiment: approach today's responsibilities with the awareness this teaching describes.

The Gita's promise is that even imperfect practice in the right direction yields real results.

— Explained by the Nitya Team

What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 11.20?

Arjuna receives divine vision to see Krishna's cosmic universal form.

Key themes in this chapter include Universal form, Divine vision, Awe.

How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 11.20 in Daily Life?

  • When you need steadiness while dealing with universal form
  • When practicing divine vision amid uncertainty
  • When applying awe to real-life choices

Verse FAQs

What is the main idea of Bhagavad Gita 11.20?
This verse carries the weight of lived truth. This space between the earth and the heavens, and all the quarters, is filled by You alone; having seen this, Your wonderful and terrible form, the three worlds are trembling with fear, O great-souled In the context of witnessing the totality of...
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 11.20 in daily life?
Apply this teaching when making choices or doing your duties. Focus on divine vision and keep your mind steady regardless of outcomes.

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← Back to Chapter 11: The Yoga of the Universal Form

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