170. All in one place

Filled with wonderment, bowing his head, and with palms folded (11.14) Arjuna says, “O Shree Krishna, I behold within your body all the gods and hosts of different beings. I see Brahma seated on the lotus flower; I see Shiva, all the sages, and the celestial serpents (11.15). I see your limitless form with innumerable arms, bellies, mouths, and eyes in every direction. I see no end and no middle and no beginning in this form (11.16). I see You with a crown, armed with the mace and disc, shining everywhere as the abode of splendour. It is hard to look upon You in the blazing fire of Your effulgence, which is radiating like the sun in all directions (11.17).

I recognize You as the imperishable, Supreme Truth to be known. You are the support of all creation; you are the immutable Protector of eternal dharma; You are ancient Being (11.18). You are without a beginning, middle, or end; Your power has no limits. Your arms are infinite; the sun and the moon are like Your eyes; fire is coming from your mouth. I see You warming the entire creation by Your radiance (11.19). The space between heaven and earth and all the directions is pervaded by You alone. Seeing Your wondrous and terrifying form, I see the three worlds trembling in fear, O Greatest of all beings” (11.20).

Some cultures worship God as benevolent and some depict God as a punisher. But Arjuna sees a merciful protector as well as a fearsome form in Vishwaroop. He sees both Brahma who creates, and Shiva who destroys. It is assimilating contradictions as One, which Arjuna is referring to as the Supreme Truth. Once this is known nothing is left to be known.