You are the Imperishable, the Supreme, the One to be known. You are the supreme Refuge of this universe. You are the ever-unchanging Guardian of the Eternal Dharma. You are, I know, the ancient Being. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter XI – Verse 18)
Arjuna in his vision sees the Deity possessed with infinite forms and attributes. But that vision is so illuminating that he perceives (through the power of faith) even the attributeless Deity referred to in this verse. He sees Bhagavan as the Imperishable, beyond time and change, the One object, the One to be known by all seekers of freedom. You are that Knowledge in which everything is known. You are the supreme Refuge of the universe, the unchanging Guardian of Religion. The universe is safe because it rests in You; as long as You are, the universe will be; and dharma, or religion, is also safe. It may be partly hidden for a time, but You are its undying Guardian.
Your eye is ever watchful and therefore dharma can never be entirely destroyed. It is eternal. You are, I know, the everlasting Spirit, the Ancient Purusha. This is my firm conviction. And then Arjuna continues:
I see You without beginning, middle or end, with infinite power, with number less arms, the sun and the moon Your eyes, the burning fire your mouth, heating the whole universe with Your own radiance. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter XI – Verse 19)
The phenomenal is pierced in all directions by the Real and made one with it.
By You alone the space between heaven and earth and all the quarters are pervaded. O Great Soul, seeing Your marvelous and awesome form, the three worlds are stricken with fear. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter XI – Verse 20)
Arjuna realizes one truth after another. Has not Bhagavan promised to His devotees that He destroys the darkness of their ignorance with the brilliant Light of Knowl edge? How true it is! Every word that Sri Krishna ever spoke to Arjuna in promise, Arjuna now sees verified.
In this verse we get the first indication of fear. We shall see later how fear overtakes Arjuna. He is not yet ready for this exalted vision, which comes to those heroic souls who tread the path of jnana. He is afraid that he would be merged in the Universal, that he would lose his individuality. He Himself may be swallowed up by those fearful mouths. He forgets that to be swallowed by Bhagavan is like entering the ocean of Bliss. And now, in order to re move the doubt entertained by Arjuna regarding his success in the battle, Sri Krishna proceeds to show him that victory for his army is certain.