BHAGAVAD-GITA 11:4

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 11:4

 

manyase yadi tac chakyam

maya drastum iti prabho

yogesvara tato me tvam-

darsayatmanam avyayam

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

manyase--You think; yadi--if; tat--that; sakyam--is able; maya--by me;

drastum--to be seen; iti--thus; prabho--O Lord; yoga-isvara--O Lord of

all mystic power; tatah--then; me--unto me; tvam--You; darsaya--show;

atmanam--Your Self; avyayam--eternal.

 

TRANSLATION

 

If You think that I am able to behold Your cosmic form, O my Lord, O

master of all mystic power, then kindly show me that unlimited

universal Self.

 

PURPORT

 

It is said that one can neither see, hear, understand nor perceive the

Supreme Lord, Krsna, by the material senses. But if one is engaged in

loving transcendental service to the Lord from the beginning, then one

can see the Lord by revelation. Every living entity is only a

spiritual spark; therefore it is not possible to see or to understand

the Supreme Lord. Arjuna, as a devotee, does not depend on his

speculative strength; rather, he admits his limitations as a living

entity and acknowledges Krsna's inestimable position. Arjuna could

understand that for a living entity it is not possible to understand

the unlimited infinite. If the infinite reveals Himself, then it is

possible to understand the nature of the infinite by the grace of the

infinite. The word yogesvara is also very significant here because the

Lord has inconceivable power. If He likes, He can reveal Himself by

His grace, although He is unlimited. Therefore Arjuna pleads for the

inconceivable grace of Krsna. He does not give Krsna orders. Krsna is

not obliged to reveal Himself unless one surrenders fully in Krsna

consciousness and engages in devotional service. Thus it is not

possible for persons who depend on the strength of their mental

speculations to see Krsna.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.