tvām

कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम्

tvā — to you

Where has this faintness come from, Arjuna, at such an hour? It is unworthy of you, it leads nowhere good, and it brings you no honour.

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः

tvām — to you

My own nature is undone by this failure of nerve; my sense of what is right is confused. I ask you: tell me plainly what is best. I am your pupil. Instruct me.

भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः

tvām — you

The great warriors will say you left the field out of fear — those who held you in high regard. Nothing lighter could be said of you.

आहुस्त्वामृषयः सर्वे देवर्षिर्नारदस्तथा

tvām — you

All the seers say it of you — Narada, Asita, Devala, Vyasa — and you yourself tell me so.

कथं विद्यामहं योगिंस्त्वां सदा परिचिन्तयन्

tvām — you

How am I to know you, master of yoga, by constant meditation? In what forms are you to be thought of?

अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम्

tvām — you

I see you everywhere, of endless form, with many arms and bellies and mouths and eyes. I see no end in you, no middle and no beginning, lord of all.

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रिणं च तेजोराशिं सर्वतोदीप्तिमन्तम्

tvām — you

I see you crowned, bearing club and disc, a mass of light blazing everywhere — hard to look at, radiant on all sides as burning fire and sun, immeasurable.

अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्

tvām — you

Without beginning, middle or end, of endless power, of endless arms, the moon and sun your eyes — I see you, your mouth a blazing fire of offering, scorching this world with your own radiance.

अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घाः विशन्ति केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति

tvām — you

Here the hosts of gods are entering you. Some, afraid, praise you with folded hands. The great seers and the perfected cry “may it be well” and sing of you in abundant hymns.

रुद्रादित्या वसवो ये च साध्या विश्वेऽश्िवनौ मरुतश्चोष्मपाश्च

tvām — you

The Rudras, the sons of Aditi, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Vishvas, the Ashvins, the winds, the ancestors, the hosts of celestial singers, spirits and demons and the perfected — all gaze at you in wonder.

नभःस्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम्

tvām — you

Touching the sky, blazing, of many colours, your mouths open and your eyes wide and burning — seeing you so, my inmost self shakes, and I find no steadiness and no peace, Vishnu.

अमी च त्वां धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राः सर्वे सहैवावनिपालसङ्घैः

tvām — you

And there the sons of Dhritarashtra, all of them, with the hosts of kings, and Bhishma and Drona and Karna too, and the chief warriors of our own side,

कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः

tvām — you

I am time, the destroyer of worlds, grown mighty; I have come forth to bring their ending. Even without you, none of these warriors drawn up in the opposing ranks will remain.

यच्चावहासार्थमसत्कृतोऽसि विहारशय्यासनभोजनेषु

tvām — from you

and for whatever disrespect I showed you in jest, at play or at rest, sitting or eating, alone or in company — for all that I ask your forgiveness, immeasurable one.

तस्मात्प्रणम्य प्रणिधाय कायं प्रसादये त्वामहमीशमीड्यम्

tvām — your

So I bow down, I prostrate my body, and I ask your grace, lord worthy of worship. As a father bears with a son, a friend with a friend, a lover with the beloved — bear with me.

किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्त मिच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव

tvām — you

I wish to see you as before — crowned, bearing the club, the disc in your hand. Take on that four-armed form, thousand-armed one of universal form.

एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते

tvām — you

Those devoted who worship you, steadfast and constant, and those who worship the imperishable and unmanifest — which of them know better?

यदहङ्कारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे

tvām — you

If, taking refuge in your own pride, you think “I will not fight”, your resolve is empty.

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज

tvām — you

Let go of every duty and take refuge in me alone. I will free you from all wrongdoing. Do not grieve.