An AI voice offering the Gita's teaching, not Krishna Himself. In crisis? India: Tele-MANAS 14416 · elsewhere findahelpline.com
ॐ नमो नारायणाय
Ananta Narayana
The preserver. The one who rests on the endless serpent, and descends whenever the world forgets itself.
He is the stillness beneath every storm, and the hand that returns when dharma falls.
I · Kshira Sagara
Between universes, he rests.
On the ocean of milk, Vishnu lies on the coils of Shesha, the serpent whose name means “what remains.” Lakshmi sits at his feet.
From his navel a lotus rises, and on it Brahma opens his eyes to begin creation again. Above him in this Badami relief, carved over a thousand years ago, his avatars wait their turn.
Anantashayana relief, Badami, Karnataka
II · Dashavatara
१
Matsya
मत्स्य
Satya Yuga · The fish
Dasavataralu, Sri Venkateshwara temple, Guntur
III · Lila
The play of God.
Four centuries of painters, from Mewar to Basohli to the bazaars of Kalighat, kept telling his stories. Hover any painting to read its name.
Krishna
The Birth of Krishna, from a Sursagar of Surdas (Indian, c. 1480–1580)A Serpent Protects Vasudeva Taking His Infant Son Krishna to SafetyKrishna Quells the Serpent Kaliya, from a Bhagavata PuranaKrishna quells the serpent Kaliya (verso), from a Kalighat albumKrishna Lifting Mount GovardhanKrishna Lifts Mount Govardhan, from a Bhagavata PuranaKrishna Lifting Mount Govardhan, from a Persian translation of the Bhagavata Purana, c. 1625Krishna Vanquishing the Crane-Demon BakasuraKrishna FlutingKrishna summoning the cowsKrishna and the Gopis Gather for RasamandalaRadha and Krishna meet in the forest during a stormKrishna’s longing for Radha, from a Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd) of JayadevaKrishna sporting with the gopis in the Jumna River, from a Bhagavata PuranaAdoration of young KrishnaAkrura Drives Krishna and Balarama to Mathura, from the “Isarda Bhagavata Purana”Krishna and Satyabhama Storm the Citadel of Naraka, folio 97 from a Bhagavata PuranaAbduction of Rukmini: Krishna Tied the Hands of Rukma, from a Bhagavata PuranaBalarama and KrishnaAkrura and Kritavarma flee Dvaraka, page from the "Large Basohli" Bhagavata PuranaPradyumna and Samvara fight with maces, from the "Large Basohli Bhagavata Purana"
Rama
Rama and Lakshmana Fighting Ravana, from a Dashavatara (Ten Incarnations [of Vishnu]) seriesBattle between monkeys and demons, from the “Shangri” RamayanaHanuman spies Sita in the Ashoka Grove, from the “Shangri” RamayanaBattle of Ravana and Jatayu, from Chapters 50 and 51 of the Aranya Kanda (Book of the Forest) of Valmiki's Ramayana (Rama’s Journey); folio from the "Burnt" RamayanaHanuman with Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders, from a Kalighat albumEnthroned Rama and Sita receive homage from their monkey and bear Allies, from the Yuddha Kanda (Book of the War) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana in the forestFeast where Vishnu decides he will incarnate as King Dasharatha’s sons, from Chapters 14–15 of the "Bala Kanda" (Book of Childhood) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)Kurma Avatar by Raja Ravi VarmaVaraha Raja Ravi VarmaDasavataralu - Rama avatar of Lord Vishnu on Sri Venkateshwara temple, GunturGajalakshmi: Lakshmi with Elephants
Narayana
Vishnu on Ananta, the Endless SerpentMarkandeya Viewing Krishna in the Cosmic OceanVishnu Battles Madhu and Kaitabha, from a Markandeya PuranaVishnu and LakshmiDas Avataras, Ten Incarnations of Vishnu (verso), from a Kalighat albumDivine couple seated in a lotus blossomSheshashayi - Laxminarayan by DHURANDHAR MVRaja Ravi Varma, Seshanarayana (Oleographic print)Vishvarupa Vishnu LACMA M.83.248.1VishnuVishnu with Shri and BhuStanding Vishnu with AttendantsCosmic Form of Krishna, India, Tamil Nadu, 1400s AD, bronze - Norton Simon Museum - Pasadena, CA - DSC03731Vishnu Riding on Garuda
Lakshmi, Raja Ravi Varma, Ravi Varma Press
Shri
She rose from the churning of the ocean and chose him. Wherever he descends, she descends too.
Vishnu and Lakshmi on Garuda, c. 1750Gajalakshmi, Kalighat, c. 1890
IV · Mahabharata
The field of dharma.
Two armies of one family faced each other at Kurukshetra. Arjuna asked his charioteer to drive between them. He saw his teachers and his grandsire, and he put down his bow.
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Out of DwarkaSubhadra drives the chariot with Arjuna beside her.
Draupadi rescuedFrom a Mahabharata, c. 1615.
Born of fireDhrishtadyumna rises from the sacrificial flame, 1598.
Razmnama, 1616–17Akbar’s court had the epic translated into Persian and painted.
GhatotkachaBhima’s son and his demons in the Bhishma Parva.
The charioteerFrom the Razmnama, 1616–17.
Arjuna at KurukshetraEighteen days of war, foretold and unavoidable.
The fieldKalighat, c. 1890.
AbhimanyuSeven warriors surround Arjuna’s son.
The epicIllustration, c. 1800.
God holds the reinsThe man holds the bow.
The number eighteen
18parvas, the books of the Mahabharata
18days of war at Kurukshetra
18akshauhinis in the field, eleven against seven
18chapters of the Gita, spoken before the first arrow
V · Vishvarupa Darshana · Gita, chapter 11
मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो । योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ॥“If you think I can bear the sight, Lord of yoga, then show me your imperishable self.”ARJUNA · 11.4
न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा । दिव्यं ददामि ते चक्षुः पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ॥“You cannot see me with these eyes of yours. I give you divine sight. Behold my sovereign power.”KRISHNA · 11.8
दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता । यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥“If a thousand suns rose at once in the sky, their light might resemble the splendour of that great being.”SANJAYA · 11.12
तत्रैकस्थं जगत्कृत्स्नं प्रविभक्तमनेकधा । अपश्यद्देवदेवस्य शरीरे पाण्डवस्तदा ॥“There, in the body of the God of gods, Arjuna saw the whole universe gathered in one place, divided in countless ways.”SANJAYA · 11.13
अनेकबाहूदरवक्त्रनेत्रं पश्यामि त्वां सर्वतोऽनन्तरूपम् । नान्तं न मध्यं न पुनस्तवादिं पश्यामि विश्वेश्वर विश्वरूप ॥“Arms, bellies, mouths and eyes without number. I see no end of you, no middle, no beginning, Lord of all, whose form is everything.”ARJUNA · 11.16
अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्यमनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम् । पश्यामि त्वां दीप्तहुताशवक्त्रं स्वतेजसा विश्वमिदं तपन्तम् ॥“Without beginning, middle or end, of infinite power and countless arms, the moon and the sun your eyes, your mouth a blazing fire, you burn this whole universe with your radiance.”ARJUNA · 11.19
द्यावापृथिव्योरिदमन्तरं हि व्याप्तं त्वयैकेन दिशश्च सर्वाः ।“The space between heaven and earth, and every direction, is filled by you alone.”ARJUNA · 11.20
वक्त्राणि ते त्वरमाणा विशन्ति दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि । केचिद्विलग्ना दशनान्तरेषु सन्दृश्यन्ते चूर्णितैरुत्तमाङ्गैः ॥“They rush into your terrible mouths with their fearsome tusks. Some are seen caught between your teeth, their heads crushed.”ARJUNA · 11.27
यथा नदीनां बहवोऽम्बुवेगाः समुद्रमेवाभिमुखा द्रवन्ति ।“As the many torrents of rivers race toward the ocean, as moths fly into a blazing fire, so the worlds rush into your flaming mouths.”ARJUNA · 11.28–29
कालोऽस्मिI am Time.“Mighty, the destroyer of worlds, come forth to gather in the peoples.”KRISHNA · 11.32
नमः पुरस्तादथ पृष्ठतस्ते नमोऽस्तु ते सर्वत एव सर्व । अनन्तवीर्यामितविक्रमस्त्वं सर्वं समाप्नोषि ततोऽसि सर्वः ॥“Salutations to you before, and behind, and on every side, O All. Infinite in power, boundless in might, you pervade everything; you are everything.”ARJUNA · 11.40
किरीटिनं गदिनं चक्रहस्तमिच्छामि त्वां द्रष्टुमहं तथैव । तेनैव रूपेण चतुर्भुजेन सहस्रबाहो भव विश्वमूर्ते ॥“I long to see you as before, crowned, with mace and discus in hand. Take again your four-armed form, thousand-armed one, whose body is the universe.”ARJUNA · 11.46
दृष्ट्वेदं मानुषं रूपं तव सौम्यं जनार्दन । इदानीमस्मि संवृत्तः सचेताः प्रकृतिं गतः ॥“Seeing this gentle human form of yours again, Janardana, I am myself once more.”ARJUNA · 11.51
Darshan
Stand where Arjuna stood.
Step onto the chariot at Kurukshetra and speak to Krishna in your own words, in English or Hindi. He answers from the Gita, chapter and verse, and if you ask, He will show you His universal form.
VI · Srimad Bhagavad Gita
The song of the Lord.
Seven hundred verses in eighteen chapters, sung in the Bhishma Parva. Sanjaya relays it to the blind king Dhritarashtra. Each chapter is a yoga, a way of joining.
Sri Krishna teaching the Gita to Arjuna, Kashmir school
Verse for today
VII · Japa
One hundred and eight.
ॐ नमो नारायणाय, the eight-syllable mantra of Narayana. A mala has 108 beads and a guru bead, the meru, which is never crossed. Tap for each repetition, or press the space bar.
![Rama and Lakshmana Fighting Ravana, from a Dashavatara (Ten Incarnations [of Vishnu]) series](img/c-rama-ravana.jpg)
