Chapter 11 Shlokas 5, 6

श्री भगवानुवाच

पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रश:।

नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च।।५।।

पश्यादित्यान्वसून्‍रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा।

बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत।।६।।

The Lord continues:

O Arjuna, witness My hundreds and thousands of

divine manifestations of varied forms and hues.

Arjuna, also witness the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras,

the two Ashvini Kumars and the Maruts and several other

wondrous forms that have never been seen before.

Chapter 11 Shlokas 5, 6

श्री भगवानुवाच

पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रश:।

नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च।।५।।

पश्यादित्यान्वसून्‍रुद्रानश्विनौ मरुतस्तथा।

बहून्यदृष्टपूर्वाणि पश्याश्चर्याणि भारत।।६।।

The Lord continues:

O Arjuna, witness My hundreds and thousands of divine manifestations of varied forms and hues. Arjuna, also witness the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the two Ashvini Kumars and the Maruts and several other wondrous forms that have never been seen before.

Now the Lord is revealing this entire creation within His totality. That Lord of the entire universe has begun to expand on the mystery of the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the world. He explains that the creation of this entirety takes place within that Supreme Atma and this entire creation is also contained within that Atma.

He seems to say, “O Arjuna, perceive this from the point of view of the Atma. Know that all this abides within that Atma.”

That Supreme Lord, who ever dwells in non-duality and the Atma Self, says, “O Arjuna,

1. Perceive My Form which comprises myriad facets and hues.

2. Perceive these divine and unique forms of Mine.

3. This entirety – manifest and unmanifest – are all I.

4. All these are the Atma – witness them all in identification with Me.”

Clarifying His transcendental forms, the Lord tells Arjuna to perceive these Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Ashvini Kumars and Maruts within Him.

Little one, all these names pertain to the various energies of Prakriti, which are often spoken of as deities. These numerous creative energies of Prakriti take form for the creation of this entire universe. They are separately named so that the individual can understand them better.

It is said:

a) There are twelve Adityas. They are the gods of the powers that irradiate the world with light. (Chp.10, shloka 21)

b) There are eight Vasus. They serve to purify the world. (Chp.10, shloka 23)

c) There are eleven Rudras. These are the deities who control all individual as well universal sorrow and adversity.

d) There are two Ashvinis. They are considered to be the physicians of heaven.

e) There are forty nine Maruts. They are the deities of the wind. (Chp.10, shloka 21)

This apparent differentiation is based on the various functions of Prakriti.

Little one, by naming the various energies of Prakriti, Lord Krishna is showing the divinity of the Creator. He wishes to infuse in the individual mind a worshipful attitude towards the creation of this world. By imbibing such a worshipful attitude towards these divine energies, the individual is able to withstand all adversities with humility, accepting them as divine acts.

Here the Lord is explaining that all these deities, along with their multifarious powers and glories, abide within the Supreme Atma.