Gita 11.26
Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga
अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः । भीष्मो द्रोणः सूतपुत्रस्तथासौ सहास्मदीयैरपि योधमुख्यैः ॥
amī ca tvāṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāḥ sarve sahaivāvanipāla-saṅghaiḥ | bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sūta-putras tathāsau sahāsmadīyair api yodha-mukhyaiḥ ||
In essence: All the Kauravas, all the kings, Bhishma, Drona, Karna - and even the Pandava warriors - Arjuna sees them all rushing into the terrible mouths.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Arjuna sees specific people - his enemies AND his allies - all dying. This must be overwhelming."
Guru: "Why does he mention them by name?"
Sadhak: "Because these aren't strangers. Bhishma raised him. Drona taught him archery. Karna is his secret brother. The Pandava warriors are his friends."
Guru: "Exactly. The cosmic form has become unbearably personal. This isn't philosophy anymore - it's seeing everyone you love marching toward death."
Sadhak: "But why does he see his own side dying too? He's fighting for dharma - shouldn't they be protected?"
Guru: "What does dharma protect - bodies or souls?"
Sadhak: "Souls, I suppose. Bodies will die anyway."
Guru: "Correct. The cosmic form shows physical destiny, not spiritual destiny. Whether fighting for dharma or adharma, all bodies enter those mouths. The difference is in what happens to the soul - but Arjuna isn't seeing souls here, he's seeing bodily fates."
Sadhak: "This is actually the answer to his original doubt from Chapter 1, isn't it? He refused to fight because he would kill his kinsmen. Now he sees they will die regardless."
Guru: "Profound observation. The vision is teaching: these deaths are not caused by Arjuna's arrows but by time itself. He can choose to be the instrument or not - but the outcome is fixed."
Sadhak: "That's a terrible freedom."
Guru: "The only freedom there is: not whether events occur, but what consciousness you bring to them."
Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.
🌅 Daily Practice
Mortality meditation: Name five people you will interact with today. Acknowledge silently: each of these beings, including myself, is moving toward death. This isn't morbid - it's Arjuna's vision. Let this awareness make your interactions more precious, more attentive.
Friend-foe equivalence: When you encounter someone you like and someone you find difficult today, consider: both are moving toward the same cosmic mouth. Both share your fundamental condition. Let this equalize your reactions - the difficult person is no more 'other' than the friend.
The roster of love: Before sleep, mentally list the people most dear to you, as Arjuna lists Bhishma, Drona, his warriors. Acknowledge that you cannot save any of them from mortality. Feel the grief Arjuna feels. Then recognize: your love for them is not dependent on saving them. Love and loss are intertwined.