mā te vyathā mā cha vimūḍha-bhāvo
dṛiṣhṭvā rūpaṁ ghoram īdṛiṅ mamedam
vyapeta-bhīḥ prīta-manāḥ punas tvaṁ
tad eva me rūpam idaṁ prapaśhya
mā te — you shout not be;
vyathā — afraid;
mā — not;
cha — and;
vimūḍha-bhāvaḥ — bewildered state;
dṛiṣhṭvā — on seeing;
rūpam — form;
ghoram — terrible;
īdṛik — such;
mama — of mine;
idam — this;
vyapeta-bhīḥ — free from fear;
prīta-manāḥ — cheerful mind;
punaḥ — again;
tvam — you;
tat eva — that very;
me — my;
rūpam — form;
idam — this;
prapaśhya — behold
In this verse, Lord Krishna is speaking to Arjuna, who is feeling overwhelmed and frightened after witnessing Krishna's terrifying universal form. Earlier in the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna was already troubled by the thought of fighting in the battle, especially against his relatives and respected elders like Bhisma and Drona. He felt confused and emotional about the idea of causing harm to them, even though he knew they were on the opposite side of the battlefield.
Krishna shows him this grand universal form to illustrate a deeper truth: that all living beings are part of a much bigger scheme, and that there are consequences to everyone’s actions, including those of Bhisma and Drona. During a previous event in their lives, these elders had the opportunity to protect Draupadi, a woman in distress, but they chose to remain silent instead. By showing this grand form that includes everything—life, death, and the cycle of existence—Krishna helps Arjuna understand that these elders have already sealed their fates by their past decisions.
Now, in this particular moment, Krishna is telling Arjuna to stop being disturbed by what he has seen. He reassures Arjuna that it is okay to let go of his fears. He acknowledges that what Arjuna saw—the frightening aspects of Krishna’s universal form—was indeed overwhelming. However, Krishna wants Arjuna to calm his mind and assures him that he can now shift his focus to another form of Krishna that is more peaceful and approachable, a form that Arjuna truly wishes to see.
This part of the conversation highlights an essential aspect of spirituality: while the vastness of the universe can be intimidating and instills fear, the heart of a true devotee seeks a loving and personal connection with God. Most devotees do not crave the fearsome universal aspect of the divine but instead yearn for a form they can relate to, one that embodies love, kindness, and compassion.
Ultimately, this verse illustrates Krishna’s desire for Arjuna to move beyond fear and confusion and to recognize that genuine worship comes from a place of love and respect. He wants Arjuna to be hopeful and peaceful so he can see Krishna in a more relatable form—either in the majestic four-armed or ultimately in the beloved two-armed form of Krishna that he is more familiar with. It’s about developing a relationship with the divine that is built on love and trust rather than fear.