11.50 ithyarjunam vAsudhEvas thathOkthvA

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Chapter 11

<< Chapter 11 verse 49

SlOkam – Original

sanjaya uvAcha
ithyarjunam vAsudhEvas thathOkthvA svakam rUpam darSayAm Asa bhUya: |
ASvAsayAm Asa cha bhItham Enam bhUthvA puna: saumyavapur mahAthmA ||

word-by-word meaning

sanjaya uvAcha – sanjaya said
ithi – in this manner
arjunam – towards arjuna
vAsudhEva: – krishNa
thathA ukthvA – as explained previously
svakam rUpam – his nectar like four-shouldered divine form
bhUya: dharSayAm Asa – manifested again.
bhItham Enam – arjuna, the frightened one (having seen the viSvarUpam)
mahAthmA – krishNa who is sathya sankalpa (one who fulfills all his vows)
puna: saumya vapu bhUthvA – again appeared with beautiful divine form
ASavAsayam Asa cha – also consoled him.

Simple Translation

sanjaya said – In this manner, as explained previously krishNa manifested again his nectar like four-shouldered divine form towards arjuna. krishNa who is sathya sankalpa (one who fulfills all his vows) again appeared with beautiful divine form to the frightened arjuna (having seen the viSvarUpam) and also consoled him.

Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam

Sañjaya now said:

‘Speaking thus to Arjuna, Vāsudeva did again reveal His wonted figure. Donning again the milder-looking guise, the High-Souled (God) comforted him, the dismayed (Arjuna).’

Thus did the son of Vasudeva discourse with the son of Pāṇḍu, and once more did display His familiar Four-armed Form. Arjuna had been startled at the unusual vision which he had witnessed; and he was now soothed by the Lord appearing in His accustomed gentler Appearance (as Kṛishṇa)

Mahātma=(Lit): High-Souled, meaning, He Who is of Indomitable Will.

The manifestation of this Lord of all, —Supreme Spirit and Parabrahma, —in human shape —to bless the world,— and as son of Vasudeva, —was with Four Arms; but in answer to the prayer of Vasudeva, who was in terror of Kaṃsa, two arms were rendered invisible till the event befel, of Kaṃsa’s death, becoming visible again after that event. Vasudeva prayed thus:—

‘Art Thou Incarnate, O Lord of the lord of lords! bearing the conch, the wheel, the mace? O God! this Figure is Divine; be thou pleased to conceal and conceal it.’[1. Vish: Pur: V-3-10; ‘Jātosi deva-deveśa! śaṇkha-chakra gadā-dhara, divyam rūpamidam Deva! prasāden-opasamhara’.]

‘O World-soul! this Four-Armed appearance etc.’[2. Vish: Pur: V-3-12: ‘Upasamhara Viśvātman! rūpam etam chaturbhujam’.]

This four-armed figure of the son of Vasudeva was what constantly haunted Śiśupāla even, the enemy, so it is said:

‘Him Who is of Four Arms, broad and robust, bearing the conch, the discus, the mace etc.’[3. Bhāgavata (?). ‘Udāra-pīvara-chatur-bāhum, śankha-chakra-gadā-dharam’. Read also Vish: Pur: IV-15, 10 to 15.]

Hence, Pārtha also similarly exclaimed:

‘With that very same Figure of Four Arms etc’. (Gi: XI-46). Arjuna now said:

>> Chapter 11 verse 51

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