Verse 11.31
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
आख्याहि मे को भवानुग्ररूपो नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद | विज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमाद्यं न हि प्रजानामि तव प्रवृत्तिम् ||३१||
Transliteration (IAST)
ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo namo 'stu te deva-vara prasīda | vijñātum icchāmi bhavantam ādyaṁ na hi prajānāmi tava pravṛttim ||31||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Tell me, who are You of such fierce form? Salutations to You, O best of gods, be gracious. I wish to know You, the primal one, for I do not understand Your activity.
Commentary
Arjuna's question 'ko bhavān' (who are You?) is the pivotal question that elicits Krishna's famous response in verse 32. Despite knowing Krishna as his friend and charioteer, the cosmic form reveals a dimension beyond personal relationship. Ramanuja notes that 'pravṛttim' asks about the purpose of this terrifying display.