GitaChapter 18Verse 77

Gita 18.77

Moksha Sanyasa Yoga

तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेः | विस्मयो मे महान् राजन्हृष्यामि च पुनः पुनः ||७७||

tac ca saṁsmṛtya saṁsmṛtya rūpam atyadbhutaṁ hareḥ | vismayo me mahān rājan hṛṣyāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ ||77||

In essence: And remembering again and again that most wonderful form of Hari, great is my amazement, O King, and I rejoice again and again!

A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply

Sadhak-Guru Dialogue

Sadhak: "Sanjaya saw the vishvarupa? I thought only Arjuna received divine vision for that."

Guru: "Vyasa's grace to Sanjaya included whatever was necessary to witness the battlefield completely. Whether he saw the vishvarupa with the same divine eye as Arjuna or received the vision through his already-granted divya-drishti isn't specified. What's clear: Sanjaya witnessed enough to be eternally amazed."

Sadhak: "Why does remembering a FORM produce spiritual benefit? Isn't that just image worship?"

Guru: "The form remembered isn't ordinary image but the cosmic revelation—the universe as divine body, time as divine mouth, all beings within the One. Such remembrance isn't about shape but about TRUTH visualized. When you remember the vishvarupa, you remember that all is contained in Krishna. This is meditation on ultimate reality, not idol worship."

Sadhak: "'Vismaya'—amazement. Doesn't amazement fade with repetition?"

Guru: "For finite objects, yes. But the vishvarupa is infinite—each return discovers new depth, new dimension. Amazement at infinity doesn't exhaust itself; there's always more to be amazed by. Sanjaya's 'mahan vismayo'—great amazement—isn't nostalgic but perpetually fresh."

Sadhak: "How can I remember a form I haven't seen?"

Guru: "Chapter 11 describes the vision in detail—use it for meditation. Also, realize: every form in the universe IS the cosmic form. When you see anything deeply enough, you see the divine. The vishvarupa wasn't special vision of hidden reality but clear vision of what's always present. Train yourself to see divinity in forms, and you approach what Arjuna saw."

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🌅 Daily Practice

🌅 Morning

Begin with meditation on divine form—whatever form of the Divine resonates for you. Don't just visualize shape but contemplate meaning: 'All beings exist within this form. All possibilities emerge from this source.' Let amazement arise naturally.

☀️ Daytime

Practice seeing the cosmic in the particular. Every form you encounter participates in the universal form. The face before you contains the face of Krishna. The scene before you is a window into the vishvarupa. This isn't fantasy but training in perception.

🌙 Evening

Recall any moment today when form revealed depth—beauty that pointed beyond itself, presence that hinted at infinity. These are glimpses of what Sanjaya remembered. Let such remembrance produce its natural response: vismaya (wonder) and harsha (joy).

Common Questions

Should I visualize the vishvarupa during meditation?
If it helps, yes. Some traditions encourage visualizing the cosmic form—countless faces, countless eyes, the universe contained within. But don't strain after something inaccessible. You can also approach the same truth through formless meditation on infinite presence. The goal is awareness of the One in all, whether approached through form or formlessness.
Why is Sanjaya's experience relevant to me? He had special powers I don't have.
Sanjaya models what's possible through grace and receptivity. You may not have his specific powers, but you have access to the same teaching and the same God. What he received through divine vision, you can approach through devoted study and practice. The degree may differ; the direction is the same.
Is the vishvarupa terrifying or joyful? Arjuna was frightened.
Both, depending on approach. Arjuna was frightened when he saw death and destruction within the form. But the vision also produces wonder and devotion when seen as the totality of the Divine. Sanjaya emphasizes joy—'hrishyami punah punah.' Fear transforms into awe; awe transforms into devotion; devotion transforms into joy.