śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
paśhya me pārtha rūpāṇi śhataśho ’tha sahasraśhaḥ
nānā-vidhāni divyāni nānā-varṇākṛitīni cha
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha — the Supreme Lord said;
paśhya — behold;
me — my;
pārtha — Arjun, the son of Pritha;
rūpāṇi — forms;
śhataśhaḥ — by the hundreds;
atha — and;
sahasraśhaḥ — thousands;
nānā-vidhāni — various;
divyāni — divine;
nānā — various;
varṇa — colors;
ākṛitīni — shapes;
cha — and
In this verse, Krishna is talking to Arjuna, who is curious and wants to see Krishna's grand, universal form. Krishna tells Arjuna to look at the incredible forms He is about to show him. These forms are not just ordinary shapes; they are divine and colorful, similar to the vast colors you might see in the ocean.
Here's what Krishna means:
1. **Krishna's Request to Arjuna**: Krishna directly tells Arjuna to pay attention to His divine forms. This is significant because it shows that Krishna is ready to reveal something special. For many people, they may not choose to see Krishna's universal form because it is overwhelming and not the usual way they connect with God.
2. **Revealing the Universal Form**: Krishna’s universal form represents all the different aspects of existence. While it is magnificent and powerful, it's also a temporary manifestation. It's like a fascinating exhibit that opens for a while; it doesn't stay forever. Unlike Krishna's other forms, which are permanent and spiritual, this universal form appears and disappears with time.
3. **The Nature of the Universe**: Just like how the universe goes through seasons—sometimes things grow, and other times they fade away—Krishna’s universal form also reflects the cycles of creation and destruction in the world. Understanding this helps us see that everything in our daily lives is part of a larger pattern of being born, existing, and then eventually passing away.
4. **Devotional Perspective**: Normally, true devotees might not have a burning desire to see this universal shape because their focus is on love and devotion to Krishna in a personal way. They connect with Krishna through His simpler, more relatable forms. However, since Arjuna wanted to see it, Krishna grants his wish to enlighten him about the vastness and majesty of the divine.
5. **Divine Eyes**: It’s important to note that for anyone to witness this universal form, they need some special capability—Krishna has to give them the ability to see it. Just like how only certain people can enjoy a beautiful artwork or a performance if they have the right perspective and open heart, seeing this form requires Krishna’s blessing.
Overall, this verse emphasizes both the mystery and majesty of Krishna’s divine nature, while highlighting the temporary nature of life and the importance of approaching God with an open heart. It teaches us that there is much more to the universe and existence than what we normally perceive with our ordinary eyes.