(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)

Breathtaking Spectacle Of Lord Can Only Be Experienced But Can Never Be Described

तत: स विस्मयाविष्टो हृष्टरोमा धनञ्जय: |
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ||11.14||

tataḥ sa vismayāviṣhṭo hṛiṣhṭa-romā dhanañjayaḥ
praṇamya śhirasā devaṁ kṛitāñjalir abhāṣhata|| 11.14||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 11- Ver. 14:

Following that, Dhananjaya with folded hands, bent his head to the Lord and began to speak, his hair standing on end.

Explanation

When Arjuna saw that breathtaking display, he was filled with awe and adoration. It hit spiritual chords in his heart, causing him to burst out laughing. Physical symptoms might sometimes manifest themselves as a result of the elation experienced through devotional thoughts. The bhakti scriptures describe eight such symptoms, that might appear in devotees when their hearts are excited by devotion.

These are the physical manifestations of profound love in the heart: stupefied, sweating, horripilation, choking of the voice, trembling, complexion becoming ashen, shedding tears, and fainting.” That’s what Arjun felt when his hair began to stand on end.

Verse & what we can learn

So far, Arjuna has been reeling from the shock of seeing Ishvara in his cosmic form. Arjuna’s reaction to this earth-shattering incident is beautifully depicted by Sanjaya. Arjuna’s body reacted with goose bumps as he was filled with amazement and astonishment. He regained his faculties and summoned the energy to resume speaking once the shock had subsided to some extent.

The phrase “bowed his head to the Lord” reveals another component of this shloka. There were few times in his life when he was met with a situation that humbled him. Seeing the entire cosmos in one tiny part of the cosmic form placed his achievements into perspective and took away all of his pride. He knew that he was nothing, that his greatness was nothing in comparison to the majesty of Ishvara, the limitless.

If we feel we’ve accomplished something wonderful, or our ego begins to puff up, or even when our personal issues begin to weigh us down, we should do as Arjuna did and fold our hands and bow our heads to Ishvara. Our achievements and difficulties are insignificant.

To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.

There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There is also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.

What Arjuna said as he bowed down in reverence with folded hands is described in the next seventeen verses. Arjuna begins to describe the cosmic form of Ishvara.

Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…