Chapter 11: The Universal Form
Bg 11.52
TEXT 52
sri-bhagavan uvaca
su-durdarsam idam rupam
drstavan asi yan mama
deva apy asya rupasya
nityam darsana-kanksinah
SYNONYMS
çré bhagavän uväca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; sudur-darçana— very difficult to be seen; idam—this; rüpam—form; dåñöavän asi—as you have seen; yat—which; mama—of Mine; deväù—the demigods; api asya—also this; rüpasya—of the form; nityam—eternally; darçana-käìkñiëaù—always aspire to see.
TRANSLATION
The Blessed Lord said: My dear Arjuna, the form which you are now seeing is very difficult to behold. Even the demigods are ever seeking the opportunity to see this form which is so dear.
PURPORT
In the forty-eighth verse of this chapter Lord Kåñëa concluded revealing His universal form and informed Arjuna that this form is not possible to be seen by so many activities, sacrifices, etc. Now here the word sudurdarçam is used, indicating that Kåñëa's two-handed form is still more confidential. One may be able to see the universal form of Kåñëa by adding a little tinge of devotional service to various activities like penance, Vedic study and philosophical speculation, etc. It may be possible, but without a tinge of bhakti, one cannot see; that has already been explained. Still, beyond that universal form, the form of Kåñëa as a two-handed man is still more difficult to see, even for demigods like Brahmä and Lord Çiva. They desire to see Him, and we have evidences in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam that when He was supposed to be in the womb of His mother, Devaké, all the demigods from heaven came to see the marvel of Kåñëa. They even waited to see Him. A foolish person may deride Him, but that is an ordinary person. Kåñëa is actually desired to be seen by demigods like Brahmä and Çiva in His two-armed form.
In Bhagavad-gétä it is also confirmed that He is not visible to the foolish persons who deride Him. Kåñëa's body, as confirmed by Brahmä-saàhitä and confirmed by Himself in Bhagavad-gétä, is completely spiritual and full of bliss and eternality. His body is never like a material body. But for some who make a study of Kåñëa by reading Bhagavad-gétä or similar Vedic scriptures, Kåñëa is a problem. For one using a material process, Kåñëa is considered to be a great historical personality and very learned philosopher. But He isn't an ordinary man. But some think that even though He was so powerful, He had to accept a material body. Ultimately they think that the Absolute Truth is impersonal; therefore they think that from His impersonal feature He assumed a personal feature attached to material nature. This is a materialistic calculation of the Supreme Lord. Another calculation is speculative. Those who are in search of knowledge also speculate on Kåñëa and consider Him to be less important than the universal form of the Supreme. Thus some think that the universal form of Kåñëa which was manifested to Arjuna is more important than His personal form. According to them, the personal form of the Supreme is something imaginary. They believe that in the ultimate issue, the Absolute Truth is not a person. But the transcendental process is described in Bhagavad-gétä, Chapter Two: to hear about Kåñëa from authorities. That is the actual Vedic process, and those who are actually in the Vedic line hear about Kåñëa from authority, and by repeated hearing about Him, Kåñëa becomes dear. As we have several times discussed, Kåñëa is covered by His yoga-mäyä potency. He is not to be seen or revealed to anyone and everyone. Only by one to whom He reveals Himself can He be seen. This is confirmed in Vedic literature; for one who is a surrendered soul, the Absolute Truth can actually be understood. The transcendentalist, by continuous Kåñëa consciousness and by devotional service to Kåñëa, can have his spiritual eyes opened and can see Kåñëa by revelation. Such a revelation is not possible even for the demigods; therefore it is difficult even for the demigods to understand Kåñëa, and the advanced demigods are always in hope of seeing Kåñëa in His two-handed form. The conclusion is that although to see the universal form of Kåñëa is very, very difficult and not possible for anyone and everyone, it is still more difficult to understand His personal form as Çyämasundara.