na veda-yajñādhyayanair na dānair
na cha kriyābhir na tapobhir ugraiḥ
evaṁ-rūpaḥ śhakya ahaṁ nṛi-loke
draṣhṭuṁ tvad anyena kuru-pravīra
na — not;
veda-yajña — by performance of sacrifice;
adhyayanaiḥ — by study of the Vedas;
na — nor;
dānaiḥ — by charity;
na — nor;
cha — and;
kriyābhiḥ — by rituals;
na — not;
tapobhiḥ — by austerities;
ugraiḥ — severe;
evam-rūpaḥ — in this form;
śhakyaḥ — possible;
aham — I;
nṛi-loke — in the world of the mortals;
draṣhṭum — to be seen;
tvat — than you;
anyena — by another;
kuru-pravīra — the best of the Kuru warriors
In this verse, Lord Krishna is telling Arjuna that he is very special because he is able to see a unique and amazing form of Krishna that no one else has seen before. Let’s break it down clearly.
First, Krishna mentions that this form, known as the 'universal form,' is not something that you can see just by studying scriptures or performing spiritual practices. The Vedas are ancient texts that guide spiritual practice, and people often study them deeply. Krishna is saying that even if someone dedicates their entire life to studying these texts, or performing rituals and sacrifices to please the gods, or giving away lots of money and gifts to others, they still cannot see this divine form.
He emphasizes that this sight, this divine vision, is not reachable just through acts like charity or severe fasting and penance – which is a practice of self-discipline to gain spiritual insight. Instead, seeing this form requires something more special.
Now, what does it mean to have 'divine vision'? Divine vision refers to the ability to perceive things from a higher, more spiritual perspective. In simple terms, it means seeing the world as the divine sees it, understanding the deeper truths of life and the universe.
Krishna wants Arjuna to understand that to have this divine vision, one must be very aligned with divinity, almost as if they are on the same level as demigods. These are powerful beings in spiritual texts who have exceptional qualities and serve higher purposes in the universe. In this context, Krishna implies that true devotees of the divine, like those who sincerely worship Lord Vishnu, can have this divine vision.
On the other hand, those who do not believe in Krishna or think of him merely as a spiritual idea without recognizing his personal divinity cannot achieve this sight. This means that if someone criticizes Krishna or treats him as an ordinary person, they cannot expect to have the ability to see this incredible form.
Essentially, if you want to experience the same insights and understandings as Arjuna, you have to strive for that divine connection. This connection cannot be gained simply through actions like rituals or studying teachings; it requires a heartfelt devotion and acceptance of Krishna's divinity.
In summary, Krishna is highlighting that seeing the universal form is a privilege that comes to those with unwavering faith and dedication to the divine. It is a reminder that spiritual experience goes beyond mere knowledge or actions; it requires a genuine heart and a deep connection to divinity.