Which form of God is most special: universal form, four-handed form or two-handed form? 

The universal form revealed by Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita’s eleventh chapter is a stunning sight. Yet Krishna declares that his two-handed form is so rare and elusive that even the gods (devatas) long to see it (11.52). 

Can’t the gods see Krishna’s form when he descends to the world? Not exactly, because they don’t always see (understand) Krishna; they sometimes mistake him to be an ordinary human being. 

Interestingly, Krishna also reveals briefly his four-handed Vishnu form while returning from his universal form to his two-handed form (11.50). The gods know that Vishnu form as the supreme divinity who maintains the universe. They petition Vishnu whenever confronted with an unmanageable cosmic disturbance. Even when he responds, they don’t always get to see him; they merely get to know his plan through their head, Brahma. Thus, even the Vishnu form is rarely seen by the gods. Yet the Krishna form is declared to be so rarely seen as to evoke longing among them. 

Why is that? Vishnu is like God in office, and Krishna is like God at home: same person, different personalities. And because God is omnipresent, he can be present in both office and home simultaneously. On the few occasions when the gods, as cosmic administrators, get to see God, they see his office-form, practically never his home-form. Hence, their longing, especially when they understand what is special about Krishna’s form: Krishna as God manifests a personability, reciprocity and intimacy that no other manifestation of God does. 

While reverting to his two-handed form from his universal form, Krishna reminds Arjuna of his special fortune to relate regularly with such a rarely seen form. 

One-sentence summary: 

More appealing than God’s omnipresent form that evokes awed submission is his human-like form that evokes loving reciprocation. 

Think it over: 

  • Don’t the gods get to see Krishna during his descent to the world?
  • What is so special about Krishna’s two-handed form?
  • Why does Krishna stress to Arjuna that his two-handed form is rarely seen?

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11.52: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, this form of Mine you are now seeing is very difficult to behold. Even the demigods are ever seeking the opportunity to see this form, which is so dear.

To know more about this verse, please click on the image