Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 11, Verse 19
anādi-madhyāntam ananta-vīryam
ananta-bāhuṁ śhaśhi-sūrya-netram
paśhyāmi tvāṁ dīpta-hutāśha-vaktraṁ
sva-tejasā viśhvam idaṁ tapantam
anādi-madhya-antam—without beginning, middle, or end; ananta—infinite; vīryam—power; ananta—unlimited; bāhum—arms; śhaśhi—the moon; sūrya—the sun; netram—eyes; paśhyāmi—I see; tvām—you; dīpta—blazing; hutāśha—emanating from; vaktram—your mouth; sva-tejasā—by your radiance; viśhwam—universe; idam—this; tapantam—warming
Translation
You are without beginning, middle, or end; your power has no limits. Your arms are infinite; the sun and the moon are like your eyes, and fire is like your mouth. I see you warming the entire creation by your radiance.
Commentary
In the sixteenth verse, Arjun had said that the form of the Lord is without beginning, middle, or end. He repeats this after just three verses, out of his excitement over what he is seeing. If a statement is uttered repeatedly in amazement, it is taken as an expression of wonder and not considered a literary flaw. For example, on seeing a snake, one may scream, “Look, a snake! A snake! A snake!” Similarly, Arjun repeats his words in amazement.
God is indeed without a beginning and end. That is because space, time, and causation are within him. So he is beyond the measure of their limits. He cannot be encompassed either by space, time, or causation. Further, the sun, moon, and stars receive their energy from the Lord. Thus, it is he who provides warmth to the universe through these entities.
vasudeva sutam devam
kamsa chaanuura mardanam |
devakii paramaa nandam
krishnam vande jagat gurum ||
I salute Lord Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, the one who gives great delight to Devaki, the destroyer of Kamsa and Chaanuura and the teacher of the world. Let us live as the Gita teaches us to Live.
