Bhagavad Gītā · Chapter 11, Verse 21
अमी हि त्वां सुरसङ्घाः विशन्ति
केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति।
स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः
स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः।।
केचिद्भीताः प्राञ्जलयो गृणन्ति।
स्वस्तीत्युक्त्वा महर्षिसिद्धसङ्घाः
स्तुवन्ति त्वां स्तुतिभिः पुष्कलाभिः।।
amī hi tvāṁ sura-saṅghā viśanti
kecid bhītāḥ prāñjalayo gṛṇanti
svastīty uktvā maharṣi-siddha-saṅghāḥ
stuvanti tvāṁ stutibhiḥ puṣkalābhiḥ
also searched as "ami hi tvam sura-sanghah vishanti"
Translation
Verily, the hosts of Devas enter into You. Some, in fear, extol You with clasped hands, crying "Hail!" The bands of great seers and Siddhas praise You with meaningful hymns.
Vāṇi's rendering
Hosts of gods pour into you; some praise in terror, palms joined. Seers cry 'may all be well' — and sing.
Word by word
| Sanskrit & transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अमीamī | these ones here, in plain sight |
| हिhi | indeed, truly |
| त्वाम्tvāṁ | into you |
| सुर-सङ्घाःsura-saṅghā | hosts of gods, crowd upon crowd |
| विशन्तिviśanti | enter, pour in |
| केचित्kecid | some among them (sandhi: kecit + bhītāḥ) |
| भीताःbhītāḥ | frightened, struck with terror |
| प्राञ्जलयःprāñjalayo | with palms joined and raised |
| गृणन्तिgṛṇanti | call out, extol |
| स्वस्तिsvasti | may all be well (sandhi: svasti + iti) |
| इतिity | thus, in these words |
| उक्त्वाuktvā | having said |
| महर्षि-सिद्ध-सङ्घाःmaharṣi-siddha-saṅghāḥ | bands of great seers and of the perfected ones |
| स्तुवन्तिstuvanti | sing your praise |
| त्वाम्tvāṁ | you |
| स्तुतिभिःstutibhiḥ | with hymns |
| पुष्कलाभिःpuṣkalābhiḥ | abundant, full-sounding, brimming |
Frequently asked
What does Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11 Verse 21 mean?
Arjuna sees the gods themselves streaming into Krishna's vast form. Some cry out in terror with joined palms; the great seers say svasti — may all be well — and break into full-throated hymns. Two responses to one sight, fear and blessing, and Krishna refuses neither. Both are worship.
What does 'ami hi tvam sura-sanghah vishanti' mean?
It means: these hosts of gods are entering into you. Not standing before Krishna — entering, pouring in, the way rivers end. Even the shining ones have somewhere to disappear into. That is what makes the watchers cry out, and what makes the seers bless.
Why are the gods afraid if they are gods?
Because size is relative and Krishna has just shown what he contains. The gods are vast; they are not endless. Fear here is not weakness but accuracy — the honest response of anything finite meeting what has no edge. The Gītā treats that fear as the beginning of praise, not its opposite.
What is the meaning of svasti in this verse?
Svasti is the old word for may it be well — a blessing spoken outward, over everything. The seers do not ask to be spared. Facing something overwhelming, they wish the whole world well and then sing. Say it before you understand it, and see what steadies.
Themes in this verse
Read every verse this way, held — inside Vāṇi.
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Commentary
Two kinds of praise are happening at once, and Krishna lets both stand. Some of the gods are frightened; their palms come together because there is nothing else to do with hands. The seers say svasti — may all be well — and then sing. Neither response is corrected. Arjuna is watching a place where terror and blessing rise in the same breath, and he will soon join it, shaking. You do not have to be unafraid to fold your hands. Fear folds them too. What matters is what leaves your mouth while they are folded.