mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍha-bhāvo
dṛṣṭvā rūpaṁ ghoram īdṛṅ mamedam
vyapeta-bhīḥ prīta-manāḥ punas tvaṁ
tad eva me rūpam idaṁ prapaśya
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 11.49
You have been perturbed and bewildered by seeing this horrible feature of Mine. Now let it be finished. My devotee, be free again from all disturbances. With a peaceful mind you can now see the form you desire.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
In the beginning of Bhagavad-gītā Arjuna was worried about killing Bhīṣma and Droṇa, his worshipful grandfather and master. But Kṛṣṇa said that he need not be afraid of killing his grandfather. When the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra tried to disrobe Draupadī in the assembly of the Kurus, Bhīṣma and Droṇa were silent, and for such negligence of duty they should be killed. Kṛṣṇa showed His universal form to Arjuna just to show him that these people were already killed for their unlawful action. That scene was shown to Arjuna because devotees are always peaceful and they cannot perform such horrible actions. The purpose of the revelation of the universal form was shown; now Arjuna wanted to see the four-armed form, and Kṛṣṇa showed him. A devotee is not much interested in the universal form, for it does not enable one to reciprocate loving feelings. Either a devotee wants to offer his respectful worshipful feelings, or he wants to see the two-handed Kṛṣṇa form so that he can reciprocate in loving service with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
“O Supreme Lord, why do you not accept me? You are forcibly giving me something which I do not want. Seeing this form of yours, my limbs are distressed, my mind is pained. Constantly, I am fainting. Let me offer my respects again and again to that majestic form from far away. I will never again pray to see that form. Forgive me, forgive me. Show to me that human form with moon-like face, covered in showers of nectar through the sweetest smiles. Please show that to me.” The Lord speaks in this verse in a comforting mood to Arjuna who is distressed in the above manner.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
11.49 Whatever fear and whatever perlexity have been caused to you by seeing My terrible form, may it cease now. I shall show you the benign form to which you were accustomed before. Behold now that form of Mine.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
Lord Krishna continues stating that if Arjuna is disturbed from seeing the terrifying and frightening aspect of the visvarupa or divine universal form then with a peaceful, contented heart and cheerful mind free from fear behold His familiar four armed form again.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sir Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
Now Lord Krishna comforts Arjuna instructing that he should not be bewildered and feel fear and agitation from beholding the terrifying aspect of the visvarupa or divine universal form because now He will reveal His more familiar four armed form which Arjuna had previously requested to see in verse 46 to delight and cheer him up.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
11.49 Ma te vyatha, may you have no fear; and ma vimudha-bhavah, may not there be bewilderment of the mind; drstva, by seeing, perceiving; idam, this rupam, form; mama, of Mine; idrk ghoram, so terrible, as was revealed. Vyapetabhih, becoming free from fear; and becoming prita-manah, gladdened in mind; punah, again; prapasya, see; idam, this; eva, very; tat, earlier; rupam, form; me, of Mine, with four hands, holding a conch, a discus and a mace, which is dear to you.
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
11.49 Sri Abhinavagupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍha-bhāvo
dṛṣṭvā rūpaṁ ghoram īdṛṅ mamedam
vyapeta-bhīḥ prīta-manāḥ punas tvaṁ
tad eva me rūpam idaṁ prapaśya
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
mā — let it not be; te — unto you; vyathā — trouble; mā — let it not be; ca — also; vimūḍha-bhāvaḥ — bewilderment; dṛṣṭvā — by seeing; rūpam — form; ghoram — horrible; īdṛk — as it is; mama — My; idam — this; vyapeta-bhīḥ — free from all fear; prīta-manāḥ — pleased in mind; punaḥ — again; tvam — you; tat — that; eva — thus; me — My; rūpam — form; idam — this; prapaśya — just see.
