Gita 11.21
Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga
अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घा विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति | स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः ||२१||
amī hi tvāṁ sura-saṅghā viśanti kecid bhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti | svastīty uktvā maharṣi-siddha-saṅghāḥ stuvanti tvāṁ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ ||21||
In essence: The gods themselves enter into You; some, terrified, praise You with palms joined; great sages and perfected beings cry 'Svasti!' and glorify You with abundant hymns.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Why do the gods enter while sages only praise? Wouldn't sages be more spiritually advanced?"
Guru: "What happens to a drop of water that falls into the ocean?"
Sadhak: "It merges, becomes one with the ocean, loses its separate identity."
Guru: "And what happens to a boat on the ocean?"
Sadhak: "It floats, travels, but remains distinct."
Guru: "The gods entering are like drops merging. The sages praising are like boats sailing. Which is 'more advanced' depends on what you value. Merger means total union but loss of differentiated function. Praising means retained identity that can relate, worship, celebrate."
Sadhak: "So the sages stay separate on purpose?"
Guru: "The tradition says some liberated beings choose to remain at the threshold - close enough to the Divine to be in constant communion but distinct enough to experience devotion. They see merger available but prefer relationship. Both are valid culminations of the spiritual path."
Sadhak: "I think I'd want to keep praising rather than dissolve completely."
Guru: "Then prepare your hymns. Those who merge have nothing more to prepare. Those who praise spend eternity perfecting their glorification. Both serve."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Svasti intention: Begin the day with the sage's response. Before rising, say 'Svasti' - may all be well. This is not naive optimism but alignment with cosmic truth: ultimate reality IS well. Whatever challenges come today exist within a fundamentally auspicious universe. Set the intention to respond to the day as sages respond to the cosmic form - with blessing, not fear.
Three responses check: Throughout the day, notice your responses to overwhelming situations. Are you: (1) Merging - losing yourself, becoming absorbed without awareness? (2) Fearfully praising - acknowledging something bigger while trembling? (3) Confidently glorifying - recognizing and celebrating even difficult situations as part of cosmic order? Practice shifting from response 1 or 2 toward response 3.
Hymn preparation: The sages praise with 'puṣkala' - full, excellent hymns. Before sleep, prepare your own hymn: what are you genuinely grateful for from today? What genuinely deserves praise? Don't force it - find what authentically evokes glorification. Even small things, genuinely celebrated, prepare you for larger celebrations. The sages didn't improvise; they perfected their hymns over eons.