The Bhagavadgîtâ, with the Sanatsugâtîya and the Anugîtâ — SBE Vol. 8 (trans. K. T. Telang, 1882)
The translator’s English as printed (K. T. Telang). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
O god! to pardon (my guilt) as a father (that of his) son, a friend (that of his) friend, or a husband (that of his) beloved. I am delighted at seeing what I had never seen before, and my heart is also alarmed by fear. Show me that same form, O god! Be gracious, O lord of gods! O you pervading the universe! I wish to see you bearing the coronet and the mace, with the discus in hand, just the same (as before). O you of thousand arms! O you of all forms ! assume that same four-handed form.
The Deity said:
O Arguna! being pleased (with you), I have by my own mystic power shown you this supreme form, full of glory, universal, infinite, primeval, and which has not been seen before by any one else but you, O you hero among the Kauravas! I cannot be seen in this form by any one but you, (even) by (the help of) the study of the Vedas, or of* sacrifices, nor by gifts, nor by actions, nor by fierce penances. Be not alarmed, be not perplexed, at seeing this form of mine, fearful like this. Free from fear and with delighted heart, see now again that same form of mine.
Sañgaya said:
Having thus spoken to Arguna, Vasudeva again showed his own form, and the high-souled one becoming again of a mild form, comforted him who had been affrighted.
1 This is the ordinary form of Kṛishṇa. ? This is the original construction. One suspects that sacrifices and study of the Vedas are meant. Cf. the speech of Kṛishṇa on the next page.
O god, forgive me as a father forgives his son, a friend forgives a friend, or a husband forgives his beloved. I am filled with joy at having seen what I had never seen before, yet my heart trembles with fear. Show me that same form again, O god! Be gracious, O lord of gods, O you who pervade the universe! I wish to see you as before, bearing the coronet and the mace, with the discus in hand. O you of a thousand arms! O you of all forms! Assume once more that same four-handed form.
The Deity said:
O Arjuna! Pleased with you, I have shown you by my own mystic power this supreme form—full of glory, universal, infinite, primeval—which no one but you has ever seen before, O hero among the Kauravas! No one but you can see me in this form, not through study of the Vedas, not through sacrifices, not through gifts, not through actions, not through fierce penances. Do not be alarmed, do not be perplexed, at the sight of this fearful form of mine. Free from fear, with a glad heart, look now once again upon that same form of mine.
Sañjaya said:
Having said this to Arjuna, Vasudeva revealed his own form once more, and the high-souled one, gentle again in appearance, comforted him who had been terrified.
1 This is the ordinary form of Kṛishṇa. 2 This is the original construction. One suspects that sacrifices and study of the Vedas are meant. Cf. the speech of Kṛishṇa on the next page.