After hearing (etac chrutvā vacanaṁ keśavasya) that Krishna in His universal form is Time, and has come to destroy all, the trembling (vepamānaḥ) Arjuna (kirīṭī) offers obeisances (namaskṛtvā) to Lord Krishna (kṛṣṇaṁ) with folded hands (kṛtāñjalir) again and again (bhūya). Fearfully (bhīta-bhītaḥ) bending forward (praṇamya), he speaks (evāha) in a choked voice (sa-gadgadaṁ). (BG 11.35) His mood of relationship with Krishna changes from intimate friendship into wonder-filled reverence.
Out of awe and reverence, Arjuna reveals his understanding of Krishna as the Supreme Lord, offers prayers of supplication as well as presents his regretful heart owing to his becoming too familiar with Krishna.
Prayers acknowledging Krishna’s supremacy
- Krishna is the master of our senses (hṛṣīkeśa). (BG 11.36)
- Krishna is the greatest Soul (mahātman). (BG 11.37)
- Rightly (sthāne), the world becomes joyful (jagat prahṛṣyaty) upon hearing Krishna’s names and glories (tava prakīrtyā), and (ca) increasingly become attached to Krishna (anurajyate). [On the other hand,] the demons (rakṣāṁsi) fearfully (bhītāni) flee in all directions (diśo dravanti). All the assemblies of perfected beings (siddha-saṅghāḥ) bow down before Krishna (sarve namasyanti ca). (BG 11.36)
- And, why should they not bow down before Krishna (kasmāc ca te na nameran)? Krishna is the original creator (ādi-kartre) and is even higher than Brahma (garīyase brahmaṇo ’py). Krishna is the limitless (ananta) God of gods (deveśa), the refuge of the universe (jagan-nivāsa) and imperishable (akṣaraṁ). Krishna is transcendental (tat paraṁ yat) to cause and effects (sad-asat) of this material manifestation. (BG 11.37)
- Krishna is the original God (ādi-devaḥ), the primeval person (puruṣaḥ purāṇas), the ultimate resting place of this manifested cosmic world (asya viśvasya paraṁ nidhānam). Krishna is the knower (vettāsi), the knowable (vedyaṁ), and the supreme abode (paraṁ ca dhāma). This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by Krishna (tvayā tataṁ viśvam) in His unlimited form (ananta-rūpa). (BG 11.38)
- Krishna is the wind-god, the god of death, the fire-god, the god of water, the moon-god (vāyur yamo ’gnir varuṇaḥ śaśāṅkaḥ), Brahmā (prajāpatis) as well as the great-grandfather (prapitāmahaś ca). (BG 11.39)
- Krishna is unbounded prowess and immeasurable force (ananta-vīryāmita-vikramas tvaṁ). Krishna is all-encompassing (sarvaṁ samāpnoṣi), and thus He is everything (tato ’si sarvaḥ). (BG 11.40)
- Krishna is the father (pitāsi) of the moving and the nonmoving (lokasya carācarasya) world (lokasya). Krishna is its worshipable chief (pūjyaś), the supreme spiritual master (gurur garīyān). No one (na) is equal to (tvat-samo) or greater than Krishna (’sty abhyadhikaḥ). How could there be anyone (kuto ’nyo) in the three worlds (loka-traye ’py)? Unrivaled (apratima) is Krishna’s power and influence (prabhāva) in the three worlds. (BG 11.43)
Prayers of supplication
- Arjuna offers his respectful obeisances unto Krishna (namo namas te ’stu) a thousand times (sahasra-kṛtvaḥ), and again (punaś ca) and yet again (bhūyo ’pi namo namas te). (BG 11.39)
- Obeisances to Krishna from the front (namaḥ purastād), from behind (atha pṛṣṭhatas te), and from all sides (namo ’stu te sarvata eva sarva)! (BG 11.40)
- Thus (tasmāt), bowing down (praṇamya), prostrating his body (praṇidhāya kāyaṁ) Arjuna (aham) begs Krishna, the worshipful Lord (īśam īḍyam) to be merciful and kind (prasādaye tvām) with him. Like a father to his son (piteva putrasya), a friend to a friend (sakheva sakhyuḥ), or a lover to a lover (priyaḥ priyāya), Arjuna is begging Krishna, his Lord (deva) to be tolerant with him (ārhasi soḍhum). (BG 11.44)
Regretful prayers
- Arjuna regrets that thinking of Krishna as a friend (sakheti matvā), he might have presumptuously (prasabhaṁ) addressed Krishna (yad uktaṁ) “O Krishna,” “O Yādava,” “O my friend,” (he kṛṣṇa he yādava he sakheti), not knowing His glories (ajānatā mahimānaṁ tavedaṁ), either in madness or in love (mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi). Arjuna feels that he has dishonored (asat-kṛto ’si) Krishna, the infallible (acyuta), jesting (yac cāvahāsārtham) as they relaxed (vihāra), laying on the same bed (śayya), or sitting (āsana) or eating together (bhojaneṣu), sometimes alone (eko ’tha) and sometimes in front of many friends (vāpy tat-samakṣaṁ). Arjuna (aham) begs for forgiveness (kṣāmaye) for all those offenses (tat) before Krishna (tvām), who is immeasurable (aprameyam). (BG 11.41-42)
