📿 Shloka Collection

Sthane Hrishikesha Tava Prakirtya

Gita 11.36 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 11 — Vishwarupa Darshana Yoga
स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या जगत्प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च ।
रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्ति सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः ॥
Sthane hrishikesha tava prakirtya jagatprahrishyatyanurajyate cha
Rakshamsi bhitani disho dravanti sarve namasyanti cha siddhasanghah
स्थाने
rightly so, it is fitting
तव प्रकीर्त्या
by Your glory, by Your renown
जगत् प्रहृष्यति
the world rejoices
अनुरज्यते
is filled with devotion, is drawn toward You
रक्षांसि भीतानि
the Rakshasas, frightened
दिशः द्रवन्ति
flee in all directions
सिद्धसङ्घाः
hosts of Siddhas (perfected beings)

After trembling and bowing, Arjuna opens his mouth — and what comes out is not a cry of terror. It is a hymn. 'Sthane' — it is right, it is fitting. The world rejoices in Your glory. Devotion rises naturally toward You. Demons scatter in every direction. The Siddhas bow.

There is a remarkable composure in this shloka, especially given what Arjuna has just witnessed. He is not pretending the terror did not happen. He is placing it in context. Yes, the vision was overwhelming. But it is right that it was overwhelming. A glory this vast should inspire exactly this — joy in the good, fear in the wicked, reverence in the wise.

The contrast between the Rakshasas and the Siddhas is telling. The same divine presence that sends demons running in panic also draws perfected beings into joyful prostration. The cosmic form has not changed. Only the capacity of the beholder determines whether the response is terror or devotion.

This shloka is in the Trishtup meter. It marks the beginning of Arjuna's second hymn of praise (11.36-46), which is more reflective and philosophical than his first descriptions of the vision. Where earlier shlokas catalogued what he saw, these shlokas explore what it means.

In the next shloka (11.37), Arjuna will give the theological reason for this universal reverence: Krishna is greater even than Brahma, the creator. Why would anyone not bow?

Chapter 11 · 36 / 55
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