Both the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramcharit Manas describe the Lord’s universal form (Virat Roop) in great detail. This form is beyond the imagination of an ordinary devotee, appearing both marvelous and overwhelming. It can astonish as well as terrify the devotee, and describing it is no easy task.
Arjuna stood on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, listening to Lord Krishna’s arguments, but his intellect couldn’t fully accept it. The Lord repeatedly told him that He is everywhere, residing in the hearts and minds of all beings, and that all creatures dwell within Him. The sun and moon that shine every day are part of His existence. Yet, Arjuna was unable to feel this. Understanding Arjuna’s dilemma, the Lord said:
“na tu māṁ śakyase draṣṭum anenaiva sva-cakṣuṣā | divyaṁ dadāmi te cakṣuḥ paśya me yogam aiśvaram || 8 ||”
“O Arjuna, you cannot see Me with your natural eyes. Therefore, I give you divine vision; now behold My majestic, universal form.”
With this, Lord Krishna bestowed divine sight upon Arjuna, who then witnessed something truly extraordinary:
Arjuna saw countless faces and eyes in the divine form. The form was adorned with numerous celestial ornaments and held many divine weapons. It wore many garlands and divine robes, with fragrances applied to the body. Arjuna beheld a wondrous, limitless form of the Lord before him.
Seeing the numerous faces and eyes of the Lord, Arjuna was stunned. The Lord was wearing divine ornaments, holding many celestial weapons, and clad in magnificent attire. Everywhere, in every direction, Arjuna saw this boundless form of the Lord.
The light emanating from the Lord’s face was as brilliant as the combined radiance of a thousand suns. Arjuna had never seen his friend in such a form before, and the sight left him somewhat unnerved. He saw the entire universe, in all its myriad forms, within the body of Lord Krishna.
Arjuna exclaimed, “O Lord of the universe, I see in Your infinite form numerous arms, bellies, mouths, and eyes. I see no beginning, middle, or end to Your form. You are crowned, wielding the mace and the discus, radiating light from all sides. Your form is blinding, like the brilliance of a blazing fire or the sun.”
“You are the eternal protector of the eternal religion, the ultimate knowledge, the Supreme Being. I bow down to Your universal form.”
Now, turning to the Ramcharit Manas, in the Bal Kand when Lord Shiva and Parvati were in conversation, Parvati becomes doubtful about Lord Rama’s divine nature. Lord Shiva explains:
“jāsu kr̥pā as bhram miṭi jāī, Girijā soi kr̥pāl Raghurāī ādi ant ko’u jāsu na pāvā, mati anumāni nigam as gāvā”
“O Parvati, the Lord Ram of the Raghu vansh, by whose grace all delusions are dispelled, is that same merciful Lord. Neither the beginning nor the end of His nature has been known by anyone. The scriptures affirm this.”
When Lord Ram appeared before his mother Kaushalya at the time of his birth, she was filled with joy and began singing:
“Born the merciful, and the compassionate, Ram appeared in front of Kaushalya. The mother was very happy, her heart was overjoyed by His form, and she marveled at His divine appearance.”
Seeing this wondrous form, she saw the Brahman (Supreme Reality) in her son and began to pray:
“brahmāṇḍa nikāyā nirmita māyā, rom rom prati ved kahai mam ura so bāsī yeh upahāsī, sunat dhīr mati thir na rahai”
“You are the one who encompasses all universes, with every pore of Your body reciting the Vedas. How can such a supreme being dwell within my womb? The learned will not not believe and mock me for thinking this.”
“When this knowledge arose in her, the Lord smiled, wishing to perform various charming deeds. He narrated a pleasing story, and in a way that won His mother’s heart”
Later, Tulsidas also describes Lord Ram’s divine form in a similar way:
“binu pad chalai sunai binu kānā, kar binu karam karai bidhī nānā ānan rahit sakal ras bhogī, binu bānī bakatā baṛa jogī”
“The Lord walks without feet, hears without ears, and performs all actions without hands. He partakes of all tastes without a mouth and speaks eloquently without speech.”
In the Uttar Kaand, Kakbhushundi Ji repeats this when narrating the Ramayana to Garuda. He recalls an experience where Lord Ram’s divine form was revealed. One day, while playing near Lord Ram, Kakbhushundi Ji attempted to fly away, but Lord Ram stretched out His arm to catch him. No matter how high he flew, Lord Ram’s arm continued to extend, always two fingers away. He flew up to Vishnu’s realm, but even there, Lord Ram’s hand remained close behind:
“bhay te chakit Rām mohi dekhā, bihse so suni charit viseshā tab maiṁ bhāg chalauṁ uragārī, Rām gahan kahṁ bhuja pasārī jimi jimi dūrī uṛāuṁ akāsā, tahāṁ bhuja hari dekhauṁ nij pāsā brahma lok lagi gayauṁ maiṁ chitayauṁ pāch uṛāt jug angul kar bīch sab Rām bhuja hiṁ mohi tāt”
“I was frightened when I saw Lord Ram, and He laughed at my attempt to escape. I fled towards the sky, but Ram extended His arm, always remaining two fingers behind me, even as I flew to Brahmalok.”
At that moment, Kakbhushundi Ji saw something astounding:
“udar mājh sunu aṇḍaj rāyā, dekhaūṁ bahu brahmāṇḍa nikāyā ati bichitra tahṁ lok anekā, rachnā adhik ek te ekā koṭinhaṁ chaturānana gaurīsā, aganit ungan rabī rajanīsā sāgar sarī sar bīpin apārā, nānā bhānti sṛṣṭi bistārā sur muni siddh nāg nar kinnar, chār prakār jīv sacharācar” “jo nahīṁ dekhā nahīṁ sunā, jo manahuṁ na samāi so sab adbhut dekhauṁ, barani kavan bidh jāi”
“In the Lord’s abdomen, I saw countless universes, all kinds of worlds, many Brahmas, numerous forms
