Commentary by Swami Mukundananda

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 11, Verse 12

दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता |
यदि भा: सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मन: || 12||

divi sūrya-sahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthitā
yadi bhāḥ sadṛiśhī sā syād bhāsas tasya mahātmanaḥ

diviin the sky; sūryasuns; sahasrasyathousand; bhavetwere; yugapatsimultaneously; utthitārising; yadiif; bhāḥsplendor; sadṛiśhīlike; that; syātwould be; bhāsaḥsplendor; tasyaof them; mahā-ātmanaḥthe great personality

Translation

BG 11.12: If a thousand suns were to blaze forth together in the sky, they would not match the splendor of that great form.

Commentary

Sanjay now describes the effulgence of the universal form. To give an idea of its dazzling radiance, he compares it to thousands of suns blazing simultaneously in the midday sky. Actually, God’s effulgence is unlimited; it cannot be quantified in terms of the effulgence of the sun. However, narrators often describe the unknown by extrapolating from the known. The simile of a thousand suns expressed Sanjay’s perception that the splendor of the cosmic form had no parallels.

Bookmark this Verse

Sign in to save your favorite verses.

Add a Note
Swami Mukundananda
11. Viśhwarūp Darśhan Yog

Quick Jump to Any Verse

Navigate directly to the wisdom you seek

Book with feather

Get Your Own Gita

Bhagavad Gita — The Song of God Bhagavad Gita
The Song of God
Order Now
Bhagavad Gita for Everyday Living Bhagavad Gita for
Everyday Living
Order Now

Stay Connected!

Verse of the Day

Start your day with the timeless inspiring wisdom from the Holy Bhagavad Gita delivered straight to your email!

Thanks for subscribing to "Bhagavad Gita - Verse of the Day"!

Get Your Own Gita
Bhagavad Gita — The Song of God

Bhagavad Gita
The Song of God

Order Now
Bhagavad Gita for Everyday Living

Bhagavad Gita for Everyday Living

Order Now
What's New in
Holy Bhagavad Gita
  • Redesigned home, verse, and chapters pages
  • Personal accounts — sign in with email, phone, or Google
  • Bookmark verses and save notes on any verse
  • Track your reading progress across all 18 chapters
  • Quick-jump to any verse
  • Full site now available in all 6 languages
  • Overall visual polish and consistency