Chapter 11 Shloka 48

न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानैर्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रै:।

एवंरूप: शक्य अहं नृलोके द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर।।४८।।

The mortals of this world cannot see me in this form,

either by the study of the Vedas or

through the performance of sacrifices;

not by acts of charity or through austere penance;

you are the only exception, O hero of the Kurus, Arjuna.

Chapter 11 Shloka 48

न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानैर्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रै:।

एवंरूप: शक्य अहं नृलोके द्रष्टुं त्वदन्येन कुरुप्रवीर।।४८।।

Bhagwan continues:

The mortals of this world cannot see me in this form, either by the study of the Vedas or through the performance of sacrifices; not by acts of charity or through austere penance; you are the only exception, O hero of the Kurus, Arjuna.

The Lord is pacifying Arjuna. He says, “O Arjuna, this form, which I have revealed to you, cannot be perceived even by one who has a complete knowledge of the Vedas; nor can it be seen by one who performs yagya actions as prescribed by the Vedas; nor can one who gives his all in charity witness it, nor one who performs mighty deeds and engages in austere penances.”

Little one, the Lord is trying to cajole Arjuna and help him regain his composure and erase his sorrow. The Lord says, “This vision, which you have received, is not available to anyone in this mortal world – not even to those who live their lives in conformity with the injunctions of the Scriptures.”

The Lord speaks truly because:

a) Knowers of the Truth have complete faith in that Truth and thus are absorbed into It.

b) They renounce the body idea and transcend the mortal frame, attaining the state of an Atmavaan.

c) Knowing that all this is Brahm, they are established in union with the Supreme.

­­–  As Atmavaans, they are completely silent towards themselves.

­­–  Naught remains for them to achieve in the world.

­­–  All is the Atma; knowing this Truth they identify entirely with the Atma.

d) They are neither ‘this’ nor ‘that.’

e) Either they themselves are all or they are nothing.

At this stage, they are truly distanced from the mortal body.

In other words,

a) They cease to hanker for any amenities or bodily comfort.

b) They do not care for the body.

c) They perceive no difference in the life or death of the body.

The Atma cannot be seen as such. Words flow forth, the body engages in action; the highest knowledge may flow from such a one – His life may also be proof of the Absolute Truth and of the nature of Brahm – Adhyatam. However, that Atmavaan is not the body – he is one with the Atma. The Atma cannot be seen just as Brahm cannot be seen. One who offers the proof of his life in the practical application of the attributes of Brahm, is verily worshipped as the Lord Himself. The Lord is thus visible to human perception, but not the Unmanifest Brahm. Perception of the Universal Cosmos is not possible through human vision – it is possible through the mind’s eye.

Seen from another angle, One who lives such an ordinary existence and who endures all negative onslaughts with equanimity and still remains silent, can only be the Lord Himself.

Little one, how deep and profound Such a One must be, that even His most intimate friend is unable to recognise His essential core. He is unrecognised even by those who stay with Him constantly. The Lord reiterates in Chapter 9, shloka 11, that ‘the foolish know Me not.’

Little one, such a divine vision of the vast universality of the Lord cannot be obtained through any means whatsoever. Such a vision can only be endowed by the Lord Himself; it is a gift of His immense compassion.