vaktrāṇi te tvaramāṇā viśanti daṁṣṭrā-karālāni bhayānakāni kecid vilagnā daśanāntareṣu sandṛśyante cūrṇitair uttamāṅgaiḥ
vaktrāṇi — mouths;
te — Your;
tvaramāṇāḥ — fearful;
viśanti — entering;
daṁṣṭrā — teeth;
karālāni — terrible;
bhayānakāni — very fearful;
kecit — some of them;
vilagnāḥ — being attacked;
daśanāntareṣu — between the teeth;
sandṛśyante — being seen;
cūrṇitaiḥ — smashed;
uttama-aṅgaiḥ — by the head
In this verse, Arjuna is describing a terrifying vision within Krishna's universal form. He sees many warriors rushing into Krishna's mouth, which has fearsome teeth that look frightening. This sight is so horrible that it fills him with dread. Some warriors are caught between these teeth, and their heads seem to be crushed, like how one might squash something soft.
This image illustrates how unavoidable destruction is for everyone involved in the battle. It shows that even the strongest and bravest warriors cannot escape their fate. No matter how confident they might feel, they will face their end. It's like being in a powerful current where you cannot swim against the tide; the outcome is decided by something greater than themselves.
Arjuna’s vision points to a more profound truth about life and death. It emphasizes that there is a higher power, which in this case is Krishna, who has control over all things. The scene serves as a reminder that no matter how mighty someone thinks they are, everyone is subject to larger cosmic forces that determine the course of events, especially in the context of this battle. Thus, this revelation highlights that Krishna's purpose is to show Arjuna the reality of life, death, and the inevitable outcome of the battle, which is already set by a divine arrangement. It’s a sobering realization that underscores the theme of this chapter: understanding the vast and sometimes frightening nature of existence and one's place in it.