Sanjaya said: Vasudeva (Krishna), having thus spoken to Arjuna, showed again His own form; the great-souled One, having assumed again His gentle form, pacified him (Arjuna) who was terrified. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter XI – Verse 50)
And now Arjuna is prepared to listen to Sri Krishna. ‘Speak, O Bhagavan ! I am all attention.’
O Janardana, seeing this, Your gentle human form, now my thoughts are collected and I have recovered myself. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter XI – Verse 51)
We hear and we think that we shall never forget what we have heard. We cannot imagine that what seems so important to us now, what seems so deeply impressed on our consciousness at present, will ever escape us. But such is human weakness that either we lose interest, or we have not the stamina to keep up interest, or we forget simply through weakness of memory. We all do for get much that is worth retaining. Arjuna was no exception. He also forgot Sri Krishna’s previous words and so Bhagavan reiterates His statements in the following verses, impressing on Arjuna’s mind how very important it is – what He is going to say – so that he may receive it with an attentive and concentrated mind.
This form of Mine, which you have seen, is very difficult to perceive; even gods ever long to behold this form. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter XI – Verse 52)
Even the devas cannot see Me in that divine form that you have seen. You can become a deva, or a god, or an angel, or a bright spirit through difficult practices. But that does not give you My vision, because I do not care for all these practices. I only ask for your love. Love alone can unite us. That is the one natural tie I have with all beings. Love I cannot withstand. It draws Me. And My devotee is so close and dear to Me that from him I cannot hide anything. He will know everything. He will realize Me in all My boundless beauty.
Neither by the Vedas, nor by austerities, nor by charitable gifts, nor by sacrifice can I be seen the way You have seen Me. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter XI – Verse 53)
How then can one see God?