The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form

Arjuna expresses his inner turmoil upon seeing the cosmic form. 'Nabhaḥ-spṛśaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁ'—touching the sky (nabhaḥ-spṛśam), blazing (dīptam) with many colors (aneka-varṇam). 'Vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viṣāla-netram'—with wide-open mouths (vyāttānanaṁ) and huge (viṣāla) blazing (dīpta) eyes (netram). 'Dṛṣṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntarātmā'—having seen (dṛṣṭvā) You (tvām), indeed (hi), my inner self (antarātmā) is trembling (pravyathita). 'Dhṛtiṁ na vindāmi śamaṁ ca viṣṇo'—I find not (na vindāmi) steadiness (dhṛtim), and (ca) peace (śamam), O Vishnu (viṣṇo). Arjuna's inner self is completely shaken—he cannot find steadiness or peace. The cosmic form is so overwhelming that it disrupts his inner equilibrium. This verse shows the profound effect of the cosmic vision on Arjuna's psyche.