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Chapter 11 • Verse 30
The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form
MEANING & CONTEXT
Arjuna describes the cosmic form actively consuming and pervading everything. 'Lelihyase grasamānaḥ samantāl lokān samagrān'—licking (lelihyase) and devouring (grasamānaḥ) all the worlds (lokān samagrān) on all sides (samantāt). 'Vadanair jvaladbhiḥ'—with blazing (jvaladbhiḥ) mouths (vadanaiḥ). 'Tejobhir āpūrya jagat samagraṁ'—filling (āpūrya) the entire universe (jagat samagram) with radiance (tejobhiḥ). 'Bhāsas tavogrāḥ prapatanti viṣṇo'—Your (tava) terrible (ugrāḥ) radiance (bhāsaḥ) is burning (prapatanti), O Vishnu (viṣṇo). Arjuna sees the cosmic form actively consuming all worlds with blazing mouths, while simultaneously filling the entire universe with its radiance. The cosmic form is both consuming and illuminating—destroying and pervading everything at once. This shows the cosmic form's dual nature: destroyer and illuminator, consumer and sustainer.
Explore Human Experiences
How this ancient wisdom applies to your daily life
Key Takeaway
This verse reveals that when you see the cosmic form, you see it consuming and illuminating simultaneously—destroying while also filling everything with light. The cosmic form licks and devours all worlds while filling the entire universe with radiance. When you see profound truths, they can consume your old understanding while simultaneously illuminating new understanding. The cosmic vision shows that truth is both destroyer and illuminator—consuming what was while illuminating what is.
Personal Reflection
What truths consume and illuminate simultaneously? Does seeing profound reality reveal that it destroys while also filling everything with light? How does recognizing that truth consumes and illuminates change your relationship with transformation?
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