The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form

Arjuna begins describing what he sees. 'Aneka-bāhu-udara-vaktra-netraṁ'—with innumerable (aneka) arms (bāhu), bellies (udara), faces (vaktra), and eyes (netram). 'Paśyāmi tvāṁ sarvato 'nanta-rūpam'—I see (paśyāmi) You (tvām) everywhere on all sides (sarvataḥ), O infinite form (ananta-rūpam). 'Nāntaṁ na madhyaṁ na punas tavādiṁ'—no end (na antam), no middle (na madhyam), and no beginning (na punas tava ādim). 'Paśyāmi viśveśvara viśva-rūpa'—I see (paśyāmi), O Lord of the universe (viśveśvara), O universal form (viśva-rūpa). Arjuna is witnessing the infinite, all-encompassing cosmic form—beyond beginning, middle, and end. The form is infinite, extending everywhere, with countless manifestations. This is the first of Arjuna's descriptions of the cosmic vision—the awe-inspiring revelation of the universal form.