Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Verse 31 Meaning
Tell me, who you are, so fierce of form. I offer my salutations to you, O God Supreme; have mercy on me. I desire to know you, the original Being. I do not indeed know your workings.
BG 11.31
आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद। विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम्
ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo namo ’stu te deva-vara prasīda vijñātum ichchhāmi bhavantam ādyaṁ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛittim
Meaning
Tell me, who you are, so fierce of form. I offer my salutations to you, O God Supreme; have mercy on me. I desire to know you, the original Being. I do not indeed know your workings.
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What Does Bhagavad Gita 11.31 Mean?
The Gita addresses surrender with characteristic directness here. Tell me, who you are, so fierce of form. Within the broader arc of Chapter 11, this verse builds on Krishna's systematic exposition of cosmic vision. 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.
Applied to contemporary life, this teaching asks us to examine our relationship with cosmic vision. Not through self-judgment, but through honest observation that gradually shifts our center of gravity from reactive habit to conscious choice.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 11.31?
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 11.31 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
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Related Verses
BG 11.32
The Blessed Lord said, "I am the full-grown, world-destroying Time, now engaged in destroying the worlds. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the hostile armies will live."
BG 11.33
Therefore, stand up and obtain fame. Conquer the enemies and enjoy the unparalleled kingdom. Verily, by Me they have already been slain; be thou a mere instrument, O Arjuna.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
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