Bhagavad Gita 11.4
Spoken by Arjuna · Verse 4 of 55 · Arjuna's Journey
मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो | योगेश्वर ततो मे त्वं दर्शयात्मानमव्ययम् ||४||
manyase yadi tac chakyaṃ mayā draṣṭum iti prabho | yogeśvara tato me tvaṃ darśayātmānam avyayam || 4 ||
If You think me capable of seeing it, O Lord of Yogins — show me Your imperishable, all-pervading Self.
Word by word (3)
- manyase yadi tac chakyaṃ mayā draṣṭum iti prabho
- — If You consider it possible for me to see it, O Lord · manyase = You think, You consider (second person present of √man = to think; manyase = 'you think, you consider, you deem'). yadi = if (conditional — 'if it be the case that'). tat = that (demonstrative — 'that [form]'). śakyaṃ = possible, capable of being (śakya = 'possible, feasible, capable of being done' — from √śak = to be capable; śakyaṃ = 'that which is possible/capable'). mayā = by me (instrumental of aham). draṣṭum = to be seen, to see (infinitive of √dṛś = to see). iti = thus, quotation marker. prabho = O Lord (vocative of prabhu = 'master, lord, powerful one' — from pra + √bhū = to become greatly; prabhu = 'the greatly powerful one'). 'If You consider it possible for me to see it, O Lord.' V11.4's conditional (manyase yadi = 'if You consider it possible') shows Arjuna's epistemic humility: he knows the vision may not be possible for a human being (V11.8 will confirm: 'with your natural eyes, thou canst not see Me'). He is not commanding but requesting — if it is possible, if You deem it appropriate, then show me.
- yogeśvara tataḥ me tvaṃ darśaya ātmānam avyayam
- — O Lord of Yogas — then show me Your imperishable Self · yogeśvara = O Lord of Yogas (yoga = union/discipline; īśvara = lord, ruler; yogeśvara = 'Lord of Yogas, Master of all yogic disciplines'; this is one of the highest epithets used by Arjuna — it acknowledges Krishna as the supreme master of ALL yogic paths: karma yoga, jñāna yoga, bhakti yoga, dhyāna yoga, vibhūti yoga; all yoga ultimately returns to its source in the yogeśvara). tataḥ = then (consequential — 'in that case, then'). me = to me (dative of aham = I; me = 'for me, to me'). tvaṃ = you (nominative — emphatic). darśaya = show (second person imperative causative of √dṛś = to see; darśaya = 'cause me to see, show me, reveal'); this is the imperative form — the direct command/request 'SHOW ME.' The darśana-request formalized: draṣṭum icchāmi (V11.3's desire) becomes darśaya (V11.4's request). ātmānam = Your Self (accusative of ātman = self; here: 'Your own nature, Your cosmic Self'). avyayam = imperishable (avyaya = 'not decaying, imperishable' — from a = not + vyaya = decay/expenditure; avyayam = 'the imperishable one'). 'O Lord of Yogas, show me Your imperishable Self.' The avyayam (imperishable) attribute: Arjuna is asking to see the eternal, imperishable form — not the transient historical forms of the world but the underlying avyaya nature that Ch.2's immortality teaching (V2.20's na jāyate mriyate) pointed to.
- [humility structure note]
- — V11.4's conditional humility as the model of right request-making · V11.4's structure is a model of appropriate petition: (1) manyase yadi (if you deem it appropriate) — placing the decision with the one being asked, not demanding; (2) prabho (O Lord) + yogeśvara (O Master of all yogas) — addressing with full recognition of the other's authority; (3) tataḥ me (then for me — conditional and personal, not universal) — the request is for oneself, not demanding a universal demonstration; (4) darśaya (show me) — direct and honest. The four elements: conditional humility + full-recognition epithet + personal-scope + honest request. This is the Gita's model of appropriate petitioning, applicable to any situation where one makes a significant request of someone with greater authority or capability.
If You think it possible for me to behold it, O Lord, then, O master of yoga, show me Your imperishable Self.
A modern analogy
This verse's manyase yadi (if you think it possible for me) parallels the right request in any high-stakes situation: 'If you think I'm ready, if you think it's appropriate, please show me/teach me/include me.' The conditional humility is not weakness — it places the decision with the one who knows best whether the student is ready for the next level. A surgery resident asking their attending: 'If you think I'm ready to perform this procedure, I'd like to try' — the conditional humility is accurate and appropriate.
What it does NOT mean
This verse's manyase yadi (if you think it possible) is not self-doubt or insecurity on Arjuna's part. It is the epistemological acknowledgment that some experiences may require special preparation or capacity — not every vision is available to every state of readiness. Arjuna is acknowledging: 'I may not be capable of bearing or receiving this vision — You know better than I do.' Krishna will confirm this when He says the natural eyes cannot see Him and grants the divine eye instead. This verse's humility is accurately calibrated — the vision DOES require something beyond Arjuna's natural capacity.
Take with you
- This verse's yogeśvara (Lord of all Yogas) as a comprehensive recognition: Arjuna acknowledges Krishna as master of ALL yogic disciplines, not just the one they have been discussing. Practice this: when making a significant request of someone with expertise, acknowledge the full scope of their mastery — not just the specific domain relevant to your request but their overall depth. This full-recognition acknowledgment is the yogeśvara-epithet practice.
- This verse's manyase yadi (if you deem me capable) as a capacity check before major requests: before requesting a significant experience or responsibility, explicitly check: 'Am I genuinely ready for this? Does the other person believe I am ready?' This verse teaches: the right question is not 'do I want this?' but 'is the time right, am I capable, does the other person deem it appropriate?' This three-part check is this verse's request protocol.
- This verse's darśaya (show me) as a request for direct teaching: the imperative darśaya = 'show me, cause me to see' — not 'tell me about' but 'show me directly.' Practice this: in any learning relationship, identify where you are stuck in 'tell me about' mode and need to shift to 'show me' mode. Direct demonstration and direct practice are different from description. Make the darśaya request explicitly.
Public-domain translations (3) compare all →
If, O Lord, Thou thinkest me capable of seeing it, then, O Lord of Yogis, show me Thy immutable Self. [4]
Wherefore, O Lord, if thou thinkest it may be beheld by me, show me, O Master of devotion, thine inexhaustible Self. [6]
O Thou Divinest One! / If this can be, if I may bear the sight, / Make Thyself visible, Lord of all prayers! / Show me Thy very self, the Eternal God! [7]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Your natural eyes cannot see Me — I give you the divine eye; behold My supreme Yoga-power.
Where yogeśvara Kṛṣṇa is, where archer Pārtha stands — there abide fortune, victory, flourishing, and steadfast dharma.
The deluded see only the body's states — birth, life, experience; the jñāna-eyed see the jīva behind all three.
I am Vaiśvānara — the digestive fire in every living body — digesting all four kinds of food with prāṇa and apāna.
Your own mind is your best friend when mastered; your worst enemy when not.
The self-conquered yogi finds the Supreme Self equally present through cold, heat, joy, pain, honour and dishonour.
Verse 4 of 55 · back to Chapter 11