Arjuna
Devotee & WarriorThe great Pandava warrior and skilled archer. Overwhelmed by moral dilemma on the battlefield, he seeks guidance from Krishna, becoming the ideal disciple.
Speaking: Chapter 11, Verse 3
Verse 3
The Yoga of the Vision of the Cosmic Form
O greatest of all persons, O supreme form, though I see You here before me in Your actual position, as You have described Yourself, I wish to see how You have entered into this cosmic manifestation. I want to see that form of Yours.
Context & Meaning
The request that sets the entire chapter in motion. Arjuna believes everything Krishna has said — but he wants direct perception, not just verbal testimony. "Show me." This is the leap from faith to vision, from the heard to the seen. It is one of the most pivotal requests in all of world scripture.
Scholar Commentaries
1 commentary · Public domainRamanujacharya
VishishtadvaitaArjuna does not doubt — he desires to see. This is the progression of devotion: first hearing, then faith, then the burning desire for direct vision. The request for the viśvarūpa is itself an act of supreme bhakti.