Bhagavad-gītā 11.24
Read once with your eyes. Read again aloud.
नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम्। दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो।।11.24।।
nabhaḥ-spṛiśhaṁ dīptam aneka-varṇaṁ vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viśhāla-netram dṛiṣhṭvā hi tvāṁ pravyathitāntar-ātmā dhṛitiṁ na vindāmi śhamaṁ cha viṣhṇo
On seeing Thee touching the sky, shining in many a colour, with mouths wide open, with large fiery eyes, I am terrified at heart, and find no courage nor peace, O Vishnu.
English rendering by Swami Swarupananda. Public domain first edition, 1909.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| nabhaḥ-spṛiśham | touching the sky |
| dīptam | effulgent |
| aneka | many |
| varṇam | colors |
| vyātta | open |
| ānanam | mouths |
| dīpta | blazing |
| viśhāla | enormous |
| netram | eyes |
| dṛiṣhṭvā | seeing |
| hi | indeed |
| tvām | you |
| pravyathitāntar-ātmā | my heart is trembling with fear |
| dhṛitim | firmness |
| na | not |
| vindāmi | I find |
| śhamam | mental peace |
| cha | and |
| viṣhṇo | Lord Vishnu |
Keep the verse in view while connecting nabhaḥ-spṛiśham (touching the sky), dṛiṣhṭvā (seeing), and viṣhṇo (Lord Vishnu). Ask what changes between the first and last term, and how that movement contributes to the universal form and personal refuge. State the connection in your own words, then check it against Bhagavad-gita 11.24.
Original school explanation. Written independently from the Sanskrit word map. It is not a quotation, translation, or summary of a named modern commentary. Chapter lens: Sequence request, granted sight, description, response, revelation, fear, apology and return to the familiar form.
Five careful reading routes
The cards below are reading references, not claims about what an acharya says in this verse. Modern wording stays inside authorized editions. Classical commentary will appear only after an independent translation has passed scholarly and rights review.
Meaning map
Follow the thought
- 1
On seeing Thee touching the sky, shining in many a colour, with mouths wide open, with large fiery eyes, I am terrified at heart
- 2
find no courage nor peace, O Vishnu
- 3
nabhaḥ-spṛiśham: touching the sky
Look, link, cover, teach
Look
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Link
Use the line starts: nabhaḥ-spṛiśhaṁ dīptam / vyāttānanaṁ dīpta-viśhāla-netram / dṛiṣhṭvā hi / dhṛitiṁ na.
Cover
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A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bhagavad-gita As It IsFor Bhagavad-gita 11.24, consult the authorized BBT edition. No purport, translation, or author-attributed summary is reproduced here.
Find the authorized editionBhaktivinoda Thakura
Rasika-ranjanaA verified independent rendering for Bhagavad-gita 11.24 has not yet passed scholarly and rights review. Modern translations are not copied here.
Independent rendering pending reviewBaladeva Vidyabhushana
Gita-bhushana-bhashyaThe original work is classical. A newly commissioned or independently prepared translation for Bhagavad-gita 11.24 must be verified before publication.
Independent translation pending reviewVishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
Sarartha-varshini-tikaThe original work is classical. A newly commissioned or independently prepared translation for Bhagavad-gita 11.24 must be verified before publication.
Independent translation pending reviewOther Gaudiya acharyas
Authorized Gaudiya editionsFor Bhagavad-gita 11.24, later teachers remain a further-reading route. Their wording and distinctive teaching structures require permission or a separate rights review.
Use an authorized edition