Arjuna gazed upon Krishna’s divine form, awestruck. He saw Krishna crowned, wielding the mace and discus, a radiant mass of light shining everywhere, so brilliant that it was difficult to look at Him from any side, blazing like fire and the sun, immeasurable in glory. In that moment, Arjuna realized: Krishna was the imperishable, the supreme to be known, the ultimate refuge of the universe, the unchanging guardian of eternal dharma, the eternal person. The radiance emanating from Krishna scorched the entire universe. Arjuna saw that the space between heaven and earth and all the directions were pervaded by Krishna alone. Witnessing this wondrous and terrifying form, the three worlds were deeply troubled. Hosts of gods entered into Krishna; some, out of fear, joined their palms and praised Him. Sages and perfected beings, saying “Peace!” extolled Him with abundant hymns. All the divine beings—Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Sadhyas, Vishvedevas, Ashvins, Maruts, ancestors, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, Siddhas—looked upon Krishna, amazed. Arjuna saw Krishna’s vast form: many faces and eyes, many arms, thighs, feet, bellies, and fearsome fangs. The worlds were terrified, and so was Arjuna. He saw Krishna touching the sky, blazing, multicolored, with gaping mouths and fiery, wide eyes. Arjuna’s inner self was shaken; he found no steadiness or peace. Seeing Krishna’s mouths, terrible with fangs and resembling the fire of destruction, Arjuna lost his sense of direction and comfort. He pleaded, “Have mercy, Lord of gods, refuge of the universe.” Arjuna saw all the sons of Dhritarashtra, the bands of kings, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and the foremost warriors—all rushing into Krishna’s dreadful mouths. Some were caught between His teeth, their heads crushed. Like swift currents of rivers flowing to the ocean, these heroes entered Krishna’s flaming mouths. As moths rush into a blazing fire to their destruction, so too did the worlds rush into Krishna’s mouths for their destruction. Krishna devoured all the worlds on every side with His flaming mouths, filling the universe with His radiance, His fierce rays scorching everything. Overwhelmed, Arjuna cried, “Tell me, who are you in this terrible form? Salutations to you, O supreme god; have mercy. I wish to know you, the original being, for I do not understand your purpose.” The Blessed Lord replied, “I am Time, the great destroyer of worlds, arisen to annihilate these people. Even without you, all the warriors arrayed in the opposing ranks will not survive. Therefore, arise, win glory, conquer your enemies, and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. By me alone, they have already been slain; you are merely the instrument, O left-handed archer. Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and other heroic warriors—already slain by me—do you kill. Do not hesitate. Fight, and you shall conquer your foes in battle.” Sanjaya, witnessing this, described how Arjuna, hearing Krishna’s words, trembling, with joined palms, bowed down and, in a choked and fearful voice, addressed Krishna again, bowing repeatedly. Arjuna said, “Rightly, O Hrishikesha, does the world rejoice and delight in your praise; the demons, in fear, flee in all directions, and all the hosts of perfected beings bow to you. And why should they not bow to You, O Great Soul, who are greater even than the Creator, the original source? O Infinite One, Lord of gods, abode of the universe, You are the imperishable, the existent and the non-existent, and that which is beyond both. You are the original God, the ancient Person; You are the supreme refuge of this universe. You are the knower, the knowable, and the highest abode; by You, O One of infinite forms, all this universe is pervaded.” Arjuna continued, “You are Vāyu, Yama, Agni, Varuṇa, the Moon, Prajāpati, and the great-grandfather as well. Salutations, salutations to You a thousand times; again and again, salutations, salutations to You. Salutations to You from before and behind; salutations to You from every side, O All. You are of infinite power, immeasurable valor; You encompass all, therefore You are all.” Feeling remorse, Arjuna confessed, “Thinking of You as a friend, whatever I rashly said—‘O Krishna, O Yadava, O friend’—not knowing this greatness of Yours, through carelessness or affection, and in whatever way I have treated You disrespectfully, for the sake of jest, in play, while resting, sitting, or eating, alone or in the presence of others, O Infallible One, for all that, I beg Your forgiveness, O Immeasurable One. You are the father of the world, of all that moves and does not move; You are its worthy object of worship and the greatest teacher. There is none equal to You, how then could there be anyone greater, in all the three worlds, O One of incomparable power?” Arjuna bowed down and prostrated himself, seeking Krishna’s grace. He pleaded, “As a father bears with his son, a friend with his friend, or a beloved with the beloved, so should You, O God, bear with me. I am delighted, having seen what was never seen before, yet my mind is troubled with fear. Show me that very form, O God; be gracious, O Lord of gods, O abode of the universe. I wish to see You as before, crowned, bearing the mace and discus, in that very four-armed form. O Thousand-armed, O Universal Form, appear in that shape.” The Blessed Lord replied, “Out of grace for you, Arjuna, I have shown you this supreme form of Mine, by My own yoga power—radiant, universal, infinite, original—which has not been seen before by anyone but you. Not by study of the Vedas, nor by sacrifices, nor by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by severe austerities, can I be seen in this form in the world of men by anyone other than you, O best of the Kurus. Let there be no fear or confusion in you, having seen this terrible form of Mine. With your fear dispelled and your mind pleased, behold again that very form of Mine.” Sanjaya then described how Vāsudeva, having spoken thus, showed Arjuna His gentle, human form again, comforting the frightened Arjuna. Arjuna, seeing Krishna’s gentle, human form, said, “Having seen this human form of Yours, gentle, O Janārdana, I have now become composed and returned to my natural state.” The Blessed Lord explained, “This form of Mine which you have seen is very hard to behold; even the gods ever long to see this form. Not by the Vedas, nor by austerity, nor by charity, nor by sacrifice, can I be seen in this way as you have seen Me. But by undivided devotion alone, O Arjuna, can I be truly known and seen in this form, and entered into, O scorcher of foes. He who acts for Me, regards Me as supreme, is devoted to Me, free from attachment, and without enmity toward any being—he comes to Me, O Pāṇḍava.” Then Arjuna asked, “Those devotees who worship You with constant dedication, and those who worship the imperishable, the unmanifest—which of them are better versed in yoga?