Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-11
The Universal Form
23. Beholding your mighty form with its myriad eyes and mouths, with myriad arms, thighs and feet, O mighty armed (Krishna), with many bellies and fearful teeth, the worlds are in panic and so am I. In this way fortune has favoured them and a blissful day has dawned on them, since they could see the vision of your Divine cosmic form. Seeing this form of yours, pervading all the three worlds, even the gods stand in awe. For from wherever a person sees it, he sees it facing him. Although it is a single Presence, it has myriad, variegated and dreadful mouths and eyes and innumerable hands holding weapons (336-340). It bears numerous handsome arms, feet, bellies and different colours. But it’s each single mouth, looks intoxicated with excitement, as though at the end of the world dissolution, the wrathful god of death has kindled fires (as at Holi festival) all around, or the destructive weapons of Lord Shiva, or the bands of world-destroying Bhairavas (who attend on Lord Shiva) or the maids of world-destroying Power (Shakti) have set out to destroy living creatures. I see here your gaping mouths, from which the teeth are sticking out in a dreadful manner, like ferocious lions out of their dens. Just as destructive spirits roam about in great glee, in the darkness of the world-destroying night, so your jaws appear to be pitch-black, as a result of your sucking blood at the time of world-destruction (341-345). In short, as if the world-destroyer Time, has given a clarion call for war or death, has engulfed all creatures at the time of world-destruction, your fierce mouths are spreading terror. Oh, this poor created world! Even if you look at it curiously, you will find that it has shriveled through misery, like the trees on the banks of the river Yamuna (scorched by the poison of cobra Kaliya). In this great ocean of your vision, in the form of universal destruction, the tiny boat in the form of the created world, is being tossed about in the storm of sorrow. On this, O God, you may chide me in wrath and forbid me to think of the world’s agony, but to enjoy in peace the meditation of your cosmic form. But, O Lord, my description of the world’s agony is only a smoke-screen for my plight; in truth, it is I, who am shaken with fear (346-350). Though the world-destroying Rudra stands in awe of me, and god of death hides himself in fear, I am reduced to this pitiable plight, in which I am shaken by fright both in and out. And you call it your Divine cosmic form. Is it not strange that you should call it by this name, even though it beats terror hollow, by its dreadful effulgence? It is the great ravager, which is causing havoc. |
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