In this chapter Arjun asks for proof through direct observation of Krishna’s divine transcendental form.

Verse 1-4: Arjun says that I have heard everything you have said and thank you for dispelling my illusions.  Can I see your divine form?   Arjun is no different from the analytically inclined observer.  All these claims about being the primal cause of everything is fine, but how can we believe in this.

Verse 5-8: Krishna shows his Vishwarup (the divine form).  It includes Siva, Vasu, Aditi, and the rest of the universe.  Krishan also says that you will not be able to see me with your present eyes so I grant you divine vision.

Verse 9-13: Sanjay, the narrator for King Dhritrashtra, describes the universal divine form.  It contained everything and was as bright as a thousand suns (surya-sahasrasya).

Verse 14-:Arjun is overwhelmed by this sight and offers his respects with folded hands.  Just visualizing this is really something.  Could you imagine if you were to “see” the whole universe in a person.  Of course you will start believing in the Supreme God.

Verse 15-25: Arjun describes what he has seen.  Unlimited arms and legs, heads adorned with crowns, all living entities and demigods.  No beginning or end.  Arjun says, I am convinced that you are the supreme being.  He states that he sees all demigods and saints offering prayers with folded hands in fear.  I too am afraid to see this divine form, have mercy on me.  So the in the final analysis Arjun is convinced by a supernatural experience, an experience that we have no way of sharing.  It is interesting that he would describe the demigods as afraid of Supreme Being.  He clearly states that I am also afraid to see this divine form.  Also God is being personified as something awe-inspiring, even terrifying.

Verse 26-31: Arjun also sees that all hundred kauravas and their other leaders are rushing into the mouth of Vishwarup and their heads are getting smashed.  In brief he gets a glimpse of his impending victory. He says that they are all rushing in like rivers merging into the ocean or moths attracted to a flame.  Finally, he asks Krishna to have mercy on him and reveal himself.  Arjun is totally confused.  He is also scared with this divine form and asks what is his intention.  

Verse 32-34: Krishna says that he is time (kalah), the destroyer of all beings in all worlds (lok-kshya-krit) and have come here to destroy all beings in the opposing army, even without Arjun, they will be destroyed.  He exhorts Arjun to therefore fight as his victory is assured. He calls him to slay Dronocharya, Bhsihma and Karna as they are already “slain” by time (kalah). With time every living being dies, this is eternal truth.  The second part is more complex, on how everyone in the opposing army is going to die and not Arjun’s army is a prediction of future.  It creates a sense that with or without Arjun death of the opposing army is imminent.  What then is the role of Arjun’s free will?  What is the role of him following his divine duty?  And for all the discussion in earlier chapter about do your duty and not worry about the outcome, this is going the exact opposite and saying victory is assured so fight the war to claim the prize. I wonder what would be the divine message to Bhishma at this instant–fight and die?

Verse 35-46: Arjun is trembling with fear and emotion.  He summarizes that Krishna I now know you as the primal cause of everything manifest or unmanifest.  You are everything and the cause of Brahma and all demigods.  He offers his respects and apologizes for any slights that he may have caused him when he did not know him to be the God.  He says that he is fearful and requests Krishna to come back to his normal form and abandon the Vishwarup (divine form).

Verse 47-54: Krishna says that no one has seen this form before Arjun.  He says that Vedic study, sacrifices, austerities nor pious activities result in a vision like this. Even my divine two armed form is not visible to demigods or humans.  However, by doing devotional service, you may see my divine two armed form. Then Krishna came into his four armed form and finally in his beautiful two armed divine form.

Verse 55: Krishna says that one who does all actions as devotional service for me and is freed from the desire of working towards a goal, does not bear ill will towards any other living entity(nirvaira sarv-bhuteshu), such a person attains me.  This may well be the summary of the whole book.  One should work for universal welfare.  Such a person will not bear any ill will towards any one.  Also he will not work towards selfish desires which are not aligned with universal welfare.

Krishna tried to convince Arjun through knowledge about yog but it did not work.  Finally he had to show his divine Vishwarup (universal form) which finally convinces Arjun.  So as people seeking truth through thinking, we either have to be convinced of the yog knowledge or immerse in devotional service in the hope that we would get a view of the divine form one day.  For me, the yog knowledge makes a lot of sense as a framework. Let us interpret it as follows:

1. All living beings share bodies made of same material and spirit made of same universal spirit

2. Working towards common good puts us in conflict with no one

3. When we desire no special fruits for our selfish desires we can’t enter into a personal conflict

4. If someone else is pursuing their selfish desires which are contrary to the common good then it is our duty to oppose that, not because of our selfish desires but because of common good (dharma).

This is the science of merging selfish desires and spirit with the universal good–or yog!