Verse 11.36

Verse 11.36: Arjuna spake—“Quite in place it is, O Hrishikesha (Krishna) that in glorifying Thee the world finds supreme joy and becomes passionately attached. The Evil Sprites, frightened, flee in (all) directions and all the gathering crowds of the Siddhas (Perfectioned-Beings) proffer, obeisance. (491)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Immutable we hold is the great truth clothed in thy words—“I am the great Destroyer Time and destruction of all things is my sport.” And yet, hardly does it stand to reason, that ‘Kala’ the great Destroyer as thou art, Thou shouldst swallow up the Universe at the time when it must live and thrive. How should enlivening vigour of youth ebb away all of a sudden and yield place to untimely age and decay? And so what thou wiliest shall not in all probability befall this Universe. Oh Anant, can the sun ever set at noon before the measure of four Praharas of the day is up? Indeed, in Thee, who art the never-ceasing ‘Kala’ (everlasting time) the three cycles, Past, Present and Future-unfold and work out in action at the appointed hour.

When things are in generation, (utpatti) the powers swaying sustenance and decay are held in abeyance; and during sustenance-cycle, generation and decay cannot hold sway: during disolution, powers of generation and sustenance are made to cease from action. And this order has existed in all eternity and is unshakeable. Therefore, the prospect of the Universe being swallowed by thee at the time of its full flush and bloom of life and enjoyment, jars on my soul”.

At this, the Lord nodded his assent saying,

“Oh, a direct vision I have given thee of the two armies which are fatally fronting towards their doom; all else will go the appointed round of destiny.”

No sooner had Lord Krishna finished than did Arjuna glance his eyes back to behold the order of the Universe, with all things unimpaired and untouched as before.

Then he said, “Oh God, Thou art, in truth, the mover who pulls the strings of all things on the stage of this universe; and so the universe has now been restored to its proper place as ordained. This however recalls to my mind the glory of thine acts by which thou savest earth-born mortals thrown into the ocean of misery of this life; and frequently recollecting these deeds of thine exalted glory, I rejoice in the ecstasy of blessedness and roll in full swing on the waves of that everlasting joy. Oh God, the universe being made blessed by the new lease of life, is seen to be bound to thy feet by the ties of love, and evil-doers are being chastised evermore. Thou art a terror to the wicked demons in the three worlds and so they are seen to flee before thee beyond all quarters. Here the Gods, heavenly beings, the human beings—nay the entire universe of created beings are exulting to find their life in thee and are doing obeisance to Thee.