How does one experience Universal consciousness? What exactly happens? What basic qualification does one need for this experience? Krsna explains and gives the direct, pure experience with His very Cosmic Presence! ...

arjuna uvāca madanugrahāya paramaṁ guhyaṁ adhyātma-saṁjñitam I yat tvayoktaṁ vacas tena moho'yaṁ vigato mama II 11.1

11.1 Arjuna says: 'O Lord! By listening to Your wisdom on the supreme secret of Existence and your glory, I feel that my delusion has disappeared.'

bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṁ śrutau vistaraśo mayā I tvattaḥ kamalapatrākṣa māhātmyamapi cāvyayam II 11.2

11.2 O Lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa! I have listened from You in detail about the creation and destruction of all living beings, also Your inexhaustible greatness.

evaṁetadyathāttha tvam ātmānaṁ parameśvara I draṣṭumicchāmi te rūpam aiśvaraṁ puruṣottama II 11.3

11.3 O Parameśvara, Lord Supreme, though You are here before Me as You have declared Yourself, I wish to see the Divine Cosmic Form of Yours, Puruṣottama, Supreme Being.

manyase yadi tacchakyaṁ mayā draṣṭumiti prabho I yogeśvara tato me tvaṁ darśayātmānamavyayam II 11.4

11.4 O Prabhu, my Lord, if You think it is possible for me to see Your Cosmic Form, then please, O Yogeśvara, Lord of Yoga and all mystic power, kindly show me that Imperishable Universal Self.

śrībhagavānuvāca paśya me pārtha rūpāṇi śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ I nānāvidhāni divyāni nānāvarṇākṛtīni ca II

11.5 Bhagavān says: O My dear Pārtha, behold now My hundreds and thousands of forms, of infinite divine sorts, of infinite colors and shapes.

paśyādityān vasūn rudrān aśvinau marutastathā I bahūny adṛṣṭa-pūrvāṇi paśyāścaryāṇi bhārata II

11.6 O Bhārata, see here the different manifestations of the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Aśvins, the Māruts and all other gods. Behold the many wonderful forms which noone has ever seen before.

ihaikasthaṁ jagat kṛtsnaṁ paśyādya sacarācaram I mama dehe guḍākeśa yac cānyad draṣṭumicchasi II

11.7 O Arjuna, see at once now in this body of Mine, the whole Universe completely in this one place, all the moving and the unmoving, and see everything else you desire to see also.

na tu māṁ śakyase draṣṭum anenaiva svacakṣuṣā I divyaṁ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya me yogamaiśvaram II

11.8 But you cannot see Me with your own physical eyes. Let Me give you the Divine eye; Behold My Divine power and opulence!

sañjaya uvāca evamuktvā tato rājan mahāyogeśvaro hariḥ I darśayāmāsa pārthāya paramaṁ rūpamaiśvaram II

11.9 Sañjaya said: O King, having spoken thus, the great Lord of Yoga, Mahā Yogeśvara Hari (Kṛṣṇa), showed to Arjuna His Supreme Cosmic form.

aneka-vaktra-nayanam anekādbhuta darśanam I aneka-divyābharaṇaṁ divyānekodyatāyudham II

11.10 Infinite mouths and eyes, with infinite wonderful sights, infinite divine ornaments, with numerous divine weapons uplifted.

divya-mālyāmbara-dharaṁ divya-gandhānulepanam I sarvāścarya-mayaṁ devam anantaṁ viśvatomukham II

11.11 Arjuna saw this Universal form wearing Divine garlands and clothing, anointed with celestial fragrances. All wonderful, brilliantly resplendent, endless, with all-pervading faces on all sides.

divi sūryasahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthitā I yadi bhāḥ sadṛśī sā syād bhāsastasya mahātmanaḥ II

11.12 If the splendor of a thousand suns were to blaze all together in the sky, it would be like the splendor of that Great Supreme Lord.

tatraikasthaṁ jagat kṛtsnaṁ pravibhaktamanekadhā I apaśyad devadevasya śarīre pāṇḍavastadā II

11.13 There, in the body or Universal form of the God of gods, the Pāṇḍava then saw the whole Universe resting in One place, with all its infinite expansions divided into many, many thousands.

tataḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo hṛṣṭaromā dhanañjayaḥ I praṇamya śirasā devaṁ kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata II

11.14 Then, Dhanañjaya, filled with wonder and astonishment, his hair standing on end, then bowed his head to the Supreme Lord and began to pray with joined palms.

arjuna uvāca

paśyāmi devāṁstava deva dehe sarvāṁstathā bhūta-viśeṣa-saṅghān I brahmāṇam īśaṁ kamalāsana-sthaṁ ṛṣīṁś ca sarvān uragāṁśca divyān II

11.15 Arjuna says; O dear God, I see all the gods assembled in Your body and various other living beings too. I see Brahma, the Lord of creation seated on the lotus, as well as Īśam (Śiva), and all the sages and celestial serpents.

aneka-bāhūdara-vaktranetraṁ paśyāmi tvām sarvato'nantarūpam I nāntaṁ na madhyaṁ na punastavādiṁ paśyāmi viśveśvara viśvarūpa II

11.16 I see Your infinite form on every side, with many arms, stomachs, mouths and eyes; Neither the end, nor the middle nor the beginning do I see, Viśveśvara, Lord of the Universe, O Viśvarūpa, Cosmic form.

kirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ cakriṇaṁ ca tejorāśiṁ sarvato dīptimantam I paśyāmi tvāṁ durnirīkṣyaṁ samantād dīptānalārka-dyutim-aprameyam II

11.17 I see You with crown, club and discus; a mass of radiance shining everywhere, difficult to look at, blazing all round like the burning fire and Sun in infinite brilliance.

tvamakṣaraṁ paramaṁ veditavyaṁ tvamasya viśvasya paraṁ nidhānam I tvamavyayaḥ śāśvata-dharma-goptā sanātanastvaṁ puruṣo mato me II

11.18 You are the imperishable; the Supreme Being worthy to be known. You are the great treasure house of this Universe. You are the imperishable Protector of the eternal order. I believe You are the Eternal being.

anādi-madhyāntam ananta-vīryam ananta-bāhuṁ śaśisūrya netram I paśyāmi tvāṁ dīpta-hutāśavaktraṁ svatejasā viśvam idaṁ tapantam II

11.19 I see you without a beginning, middle or end, infinite in power and many arms, The sun and the moon being Your eyes, the blazing fire your mouth, the wholeUuniverse scorched by Your radiance.

dyāvāpṛthivyor idam antaraṁ hi vyāptaṁ tvayaikena diśaśca sarvāḥ I dṛṣṭvādbhutaṁ rūpamugraṁ tavedaṁ lokatrayaṁ pravyathitaṁ mahātman II

11.20 This space between earth and the heavens and everything is filled by You alone O Great Being, having seen Your wonderful and terrible form, the three worlds tremble with fear.

amī hi tvāṁ surasaṅghā viśanti kecidbhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti I svastī tyuktvā maharṣisiddhasaṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṁ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ II

11.21 Many celestials enter into You; some praise You in fear with folded hands; many great masters and sages hail and adore you.

rudrādityā vasavo ye ca sādhyā viśve'śvinau marutaś coṣmapāśca I gandha-rvayakṣāsura siddhasaṅghā vīkṣante tvaṁ vismitāś caiva sarve II

11.22 The Rudra, Āditya, Vasu, Sādhyā, Viśvedeva, Aśvin, Marut, Ūṣmapa and a host of Gandharva, Yakṣa, Asura and Sidhha are all looking at You in amazement.

rūpaṁ mahatte bahuvaktranetraṁ mahābāho bahubāhūrupādam I bahūdaraṁ bahu-daṁṣṭrā-karālaṁ dṛṣṭvā lokāḥ pravyathitās tathāham II

11.23 Having seen Your immeasurable form with many mouths and eyes, with many arms, thighs and feet, with many stomachs and frightening tusks, O Mahābāho, Mighty-armed, the worlds are terrified and so am I.

nabhaḥspṛśaṁ dīptamanekavarṇaṁ vyāttānanaṁ dīptaviśāla netram I dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntarātmā dhṛtiṁ na vindāmi śamaṁ ca viṣṇo II

11.24 Seeing You, Your form touching the sky, flaming in many colors, mouths wide open, large fiery eyes, O Viṣṇu, I find neither courage nor peace; I am frightened.

daṁṣṭrākarālāni ca te mukhāni dṛṣṭvaiva kālānalasannibhāni I diśo na jāne na labhe ca śarma prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa II

11.25 Having seen your fearsome mouths with blazing tusks like the fire of the end of the universe, I know not the four directions nor do I find peace. O Lord of the Deva, O refuge of the Universe, be gracious.

amī ca tvāṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ sarve sahaivāvanipālasaṅghaiḥ I bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sūtaputrastathāsau sahāsmadīyairapi yodhamukhyaiḥ II

11.26 All the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra with many kings of the earth, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, the son of the charioteer, Karṇa, with our warrior chieftains.

vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti daṁṣṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni I kecidvilagnā daśanāntareṣu sandṛśyante cūrṇitair uttamāñgaiḥ II

11.27 Into Your mouths with terrible tusks, fearful to behold, they enter. Some are seen caught in the gaps between the tusks and their heads crushed.

yathā nadīnāṁ bahavo'mbuvegāḥ samudram evābhimukhā dravanti I tathā tavāmī naralokavīrā viśanti vaktrāṇy abhivijvalanti II

11.28 Even as many torrents of rivers flow towards the ocean, so too these warriors in the world of men enter Your flaming mouths.

yathā pradīptaṁ jvalanaṁ pataṅgā viśanti nāśāya samṛddhavegāḥ I tathaiva nāśāya viśanti lokās tavāpi vaktrāṇi samṛddhavegāḥ II

11.29 Just as moths hurriedly rush into the fire for their own destruction, So too these creatures rush hastily into Your mouths of destruction.

lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāl lokān samagrān vadanair jvaladbhiḥ I tejobhir āpūrya jagatsamagraṁ bhāsastavo'grāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo II

11.30 Swallowing all worlds on every side with your flaming mouths You lick in enjoyment. O Viṣṇu, Your fierce rays are burning, filling the whole world with radiance.

ākhyāhi me ko bhavānugrarūpo namo'stu te devavara prasīda I vijñātum icchāmi bhavantam ādyaṁ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim II

11.31 Tell me who You are, so fierce in form; salutations to You, O Supreme; have mercy. Indeed I know not Your purpose but I desire to know You, the Original Being.

śrī bhagavānuvāca kālo'smi loka-kṣaya-kṛt pravṛddho lokān samāhartumiha pravṛttaḥ I ṛte'pi tvāṁ na bhaviṣyanti sarve ye'avasthitāḥ pratyanīkeṣu yodhāḥ II

11.32 Śrī Bhagavān says: I am the mighty world-destroying Time, I am now destroying the worlds. Even without you, none of the warriors standing in the hostile armies shall live.

tasmāt tvamuttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham I mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvameva nimittamātraṁ bhava savyasācin II

11.33 Get up and gain glory. Conquer the enemies and enjoy the prosperous kingdom. I have slain all these warriors; you are a mere instrument, O Savyasācī (Arjuna).

droṇaṁ ca bhīṣmaṁ ca jayadrathaṁ ca karṇaṁ tathānyānapi yodhavīrān I mayā hatāṁstvaṁ jahi mā vyathiṣṭā yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān II

11.34 Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa and other brave warriors have already been slain by Me; destroy them. Do not be be afraid; fight and you shall conquer your enemies in battle.

sañjaya uvāca etacchrutvā vacanaṁ keśavasya kṛtāñjalirvepamānaḥ kirīṭī I namaskṛtvā bhūya evāha kṛṣṇaṁ sagadgadaṁ bhītabhītah praṇamya II

11.35 Sañjaya said: Having heard this speech of Keśava, the crowned Arjuna with joined palms, trembling, prostrating himself, again addressed Kṛṣṇa, voice choking, bowing down, overwhelmed with fear.

arjuna uvāca

sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā jagat prahṛṣy atyanurajyate ca I rakṣāṁsi bhītāni diśo dravanti sarve namasyanti ca siddhasaṅghāḥ II

11.36 Arjuna says: O Hṛṣīkeśā, it is but right that the world delights and rejoices in Your praise. Rākṣasas fly in fear in all directions and all hosts of sages bow to You.

kasmācca te na nameran mahātman garīyase brahmaṇo'pyādikartre I ananta deveśa jagan-nivāsa tvam akṣaraṁ sad-asat tat paraṁ yat II

11.37 And why should they not bow to Thee, O Great Soul, greater than all else, the Creator of even Brahma the Creator. O Lord of Lords, O Infinite Being, O Abode of the Universe, You are the imperishable, that which is beyond both seen and the unseen.

tvamādidevaḥ puruṣaḥ purāṇas tvamasya viśvasya paraṁ nidhānam I vettāsi vedyaṁ ca paraṁ ca dhāma tvayā tataṁ viśvam ananta rūpa II

11.38 You are the primal God, the ancient Being, the Supreme refuge of the Universe. You are the knower and the One to be known. You are the Supreme Abode. O Being of Infinite forms, by You alone is the Universe pervaded.

vāyur yamo'gnir varuṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ prajāpatis tvaṁ prapitāmahaś ca I namo namaste'stu sahasrakṛtvaḥ punaśca bhūyo'pi namo namaste II

11.39 You are Vāyu, Yama, Agni, Varuṇa, the Moon, Prājapati and the great-grandfather of all. Salutations unto You a thousand times and again, salutations unto You!

namaḥ purastādatha pṛṣṭataste namo'stu te sarvata eva sarva I ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas tvaṁ sarvaṁ samāpnoṣi tato'si sarvaḥ II

11.40 Salutations to You, before and behind! Salutations to You on every side! O All! Infinite in power and Infinite in prowess, You are everything and everywhere.

sakheti matvā prasabhaṁ yaduktaṁ he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakheti I ajānatā mahimānaṁ tavedaṁ mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi II

11.41 Whatever I have rashly says from carelessness or love, addressing You as Kṛṣṇa, Yādava, my friend regarding You merely as a friend, unaware of this greatness of Yours.

yac cāvahāsārtham asatkṛto'si vihāraśayyāsana bhojaneṣu I eko'tha va'py acyuta tat samakṣaṁ tat kṣāmaye tvām aham aprameyam II

11.42 In whatever way I may have insulted You in fun, while at play, resting, sitting or at meals, when alone with You or in company, O Acyuta, O immeasurable One, I implore You to forgive me.

pitāsi lokasya carācarasya tvamasya pūjyaśca gururgarīyān I na tvatsamo'sty abhyadhikaḥ kuto'nyo lokatraye'py apratima-prabhāva II

11.43 You are the father of this world, moving and unmoving. You are to be adored by this world. You are the greatest guru; there is none who exists equal to You. O Being of unequalled power, how then can there be another, superior to You in the three worlds?

tasmātpraṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṁ prasādaye tvāṁaham īśam īḍyam I pite'va putrasya sakhe'va sakhyuḥ priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum II

11.44 Therefore, bowing down, I prostrate my body before You and crave Your forgiveness, adorable Lord. Even as a father forgives his son, a friend his friend, a lover his beloved, You should, O Deva, forgive me.

adṛṣṭa-pūrvaṁ hṛṣito'smi dṛṣṭvā bhayena ca pravyathitaṁ mano me I tadeva me darśaya devarūpaṁ prasīda deveśa jagannivāsa II

11.45 After seeing this form that I have never seen before, I am filled with gladness but at the same time I am disturbed by fear. Please bestow Your grace upon me and show me Your form as the Supreme Personality, O Lord of Lords, O refuge of the Universe.

kirīṭinaṁ gadinaṁ cakra-hastam icchāmi tvāṁ draṣṭumahaṁ tathaiva I tenaiva rūpeṇa caturbhujena sahasrabāho bhava viśvamūrte II

11.46 O thousand armed Universal Form! I wish to see Your form with crown, fourarmed with mace, disc in Your hand. I yearn to see You in that form.

śrī bhagavānuvāca mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṁ rūpaṁ paraṁ darśitam ātma-yogāt I tejo-mayaṁ viśvamam anantamādyaṁ yanme tvad anyena na dṛṣṭa-pūrvam II

11.47 Bhagavān says: Dear Arjuna, I have favoured you with this Transcendental form within the material world of My internal power. No one before you has seen this unlimited, brilliant form.

na veda-yajñādhyayanairna dānaiḥ na ca kriyābhir na tapobhir ugraiḥ I evaṁ-rūpaḥ śakya ahaṁ nṛ-loke draṣṭuṁ tvadanyena kuru-pravīra II

11.48 O best among Kuru warriors, no one has ever before seen this Universal form of Mine, for neither by studying the Vedas nor by performing sacrifices or charities, can this form be seen. Only you have seen this form.

mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍhabhāvo dṛṣṭvā rūpaṁ ghoramīdṛṅmamedam I vyapetabhīḥ prītamanāḥ punastvaṁ tadeva me rūpamidaṁ prapaśya II

11.49 Do not be disturbed any longer by seeing this terrible form of Mine. Dear devotee, be free from all disturbances. With a peaceful mind, you can now se the form you wish to see.

sañjaya uvāca

ityarjunaṁ vāsudevastatho'ktvā svakaṁ rūpaṁ darśayāmāsa bhūyaḥ I āśvasayām āsa ca bhītam enaṁ bhūtvā punaḥ saumya-vapur-mahātmā II

11.50 Sañjaya said: Kṛṣṇa, while speaking to Arjuna, revealed His form with four arms, Then assuming His human form He consoled the terrified Arjuna.

arjuna uvāca

dṛṣṭvedaṁ mānuṣaṁ rūpaṁ tava saumyaṁ janārdana I idānīmasmi saṁvṛttaḥ sacetāh prakṛtiṁ gataḥ II

11.51 Arjuna says: Seeing this wonderful human form, My mind is now calm and I am restored to my original nature.

śrībhagavānuvāca sudurdarśamidaṁ rūpaṁ dṛṣṭavānasi yanmama I devā apyasya rūpasya nityaṁ darśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ II 11.52

11.52 Bhagavān says: The four-armed form that you have seen is rare to behold. Even the celestials are forever aspiring to see this form.

nāhaṁ vedairna tapasā na dānena na cejyayā I śakya evaṁvidho draṣṭuṁ dṛṣṭavānasi māṁ yathā II 11.53 11.53 The four armed form that you have seen with your Transcendental eyes cannot be understood simply by study of the Vedas, nor by undergoing penances or charity or worship; one cannot see Me as I am, by these means.

bhaktyā tvananyayā śakya aham evaṁ vidho'rjuna I jñātuṁ draṣṭuṁ ca tattvena praveṣṭuṁ ca parantapa II 11.54

11.54 My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can you understand Me as I am, standing before you, being seen directly. Only in this way can you reach Me, O Parantapa.

mat-karma-kṛn mat-paramo mad-bhaktaḥ saṅgavarjitaḥ I nirvairaḥ sarvabhūteṣu yaḥ sa māmeti pāṇḍava II 11.55

11.55 My dear Arjuna, one who is engaged entirely in My devotional service, who surrenders to Me as the Supreme, free from attachment, full of love for every entity, surely comes to Me.

iti śrīmad bhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyām yogaśāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjuna saṁvāde viśvarūpadarśanayogo nāmaekādaśo'dhyāyaḥ II

In the Upaniṣad of Śrimad Bhagavad Gītā, the scripture of yoga dealing with Brahmavidyā Yogaśāstra, the science of Brahman, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇārjuna saṁvād, dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Arjuna, this is eleventh chapter named, Viśvarūpa Darśan Yogaḥ**,** 'Yoga of the Vision of the Cosmic Form.'

Viśvarūpa Darśan Yogaḥ–Vision of the Cosmic form. This chapter has a very special significance. Kṛṣṇa shows His Cosmic form to Arjuna, giving the experience of Universal Consciousness. At Arjuna's request, Kṛṣṇa reveals His Divine Self, that of Parabrahma Kṛṣṇa.

If you are in love with Kṛṣṇa, this is the chapter to know Him and enjoy Him. He does not give any teachings. He gives the pure experience directly: 'I am Everything'. In the previous chapter, Kṛṣṇa gave the intellectual expression to a person deeply in love. Kṛṣṇa can be God only when a person achieves the maturity of Arjuna.

Let us now examine three questions:

Can Universal consciousness be experienced? What is the basic qualification for this experience? What happens in our being when we experiences it? These three questions are explained beautifully by Śrī Kṛṣṇa. We shall understand and explore the wonderful possibility of experiencing Kṛṣṇa as the Cosmic window.