Gita 11.49
Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga
मा ते व्यथा मा च विमूढभावो दृष्ट्वा रूपं घोरमीदृङ्ममेदम् । व्यपेतभीः प्रीतमनाः पुनस्त्वं तदेव मे रूपमिदं प्रपश्य ॥
mā te vyathā mā ca vimūḍha-bhāvo dṛṣṭvā rūpaṁ ghoram īdṛṅ mamedam | vyapeta-bhīḥ prīta-manāḥ punas tvaṁ tad eva me rūpam idaṁ prapaśya ||
In essence: Let there be no distress or bewilderment from seeing My terrible form - with fear dispelled and heart gladdened, behold again that very form you love.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "I sometimes feel I'm in spiritual crisis - I've seen or understood something that I can't integrate. It's left me shaken rather than peaceful. Is this normal?"
Guru: "Arjuna, the greatest warrior, the divine friend of God, was in exactly this state. So yes, normal."
Sadhak: "But he had Krishna right there to comfort him. What do we have?"
Guru: "You have this verse. 'Mā te vyathā' - let there not be distress. The same compassion that spoke to Arjuna speaks to you now. The terrible truth you've glimpsed hasn't stopped being true, but you don't have to stay in terror forever."
Sadhak: "How do I move from terror to peace? He just says 'let there not be fear' - but fear doesn't leave on command."
Guru: "Notice what Krishna does: He doesn't just say 'stop being afraid.' He changes the form. He adjusts the revelation to what Arjuna can receive with joy. This is the teaching: when you've encountered too much too fast, return to simpler forms. If formless meditation terrified you, return to a beloved deity. If the guru's teaching overwhelmed you, return to a simple practice. The infinite isn't punishing you for needing gentleness."
Sadhak: "But isn't that retreat? Shouldn't I stay with the difficult truth?"
Guru: "Integration takes time. A child who falls into deep water needs to be brought to shore before learning to swim. Krishna brings Arjuna to shore - the gentle form. Later, Arjuna will integrate what he saw; the cosmic vision will become part of his understanding. But first, safety. First, peace. 'Prīta-manāḥ' - a pleased mind. Joy must return before integration can happen."
Sadhak: "So it's okay to seek comfort after spiritual difficulty?"
Guru: "Krishna - God Himself - offers comfort to His devotee. Could it be more clearly sanctioned? The Divine doesn't demand you stay shattered. It offers forms you can love, truths you can hold, a pace you can sustain. This is grace: not only revealing the terrible truth but also providing the gentle form that lets you live with that truth."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Starting from peace: Begin your day by invoking 'prīta-manāḥ' - a pleased, joyful mind. Whatever spiritual truth you're working to integrate, begin from a place of peace rather than forcing yourself into intensity. Let the gentle form come first; the cosmic understanding will develop in its own time.
Fear inventory: If fear arises during the day - spiritual or worldly - notice whether it's serving a current purpose or is residue from past encounter with difficulty. If residue, mentally receive Krishna's words: 'mā te vyathā' - let there not be distress. The difficult revelation served its purpose; you don't have to keep reliving it.
Gentle form invitation: Before sleep, consciously invite the 'tad eva rūpam' - that very gentle form of the Divine that brings you peace. If you've been wrestling with difficult spiritual concepts, let them rest. Ask to dream of the gentle face, the kind presence, the form you can love without fear. Integration happens in rest; forcing happens in exhaustion. Tonight, choose rest.