In plain words
I rejoice at seeing what was never seen before, yet my mind is shaken with fear. Show me again that very form of Yours, O God. Be gracious, Lord of gods, abode of the universe.
Word for word
Having seen what was never seen before, I am delighted, and my mind is shaken with fear; show me that very form, O God; be gracious, O Lord of gods, O abode of the world.
The commentators
Bhagavadgītābhāṣyam· bhāṣya
अदृष्टपूर्वं न कदाचिदपि दृष्टपूर्वम् इदं विश्वरूपं तव मया अन्यैर्वा, तत् अहं दृष्ट्वा हृषितः अस्मि । भयेन च प्रव्यथितं मनः मे । अतः तदेव मे मम दर्शय हे देव रूपं यत् मत्सखम् । प्रसीद देवेश, जगन्निवास जगतो निवासो जगन्निवासः, हे जगन्निवास ॥ ४५ ॥
In plain words
This form of yours — no one has ever seen it before, not me, not anyone, not ever. And having seen it now, I am overjoyed. But my mind is also shaking with fear. So please, show me that other form again — the one that is mine, the one where you are simply my friend. Be gracious, Lord of the gods. Home of the whole world — that is what the name means, the dwelling-place in which this entire world rests — home of the whole world, that is who you are.
Close to the Sanskrit
Never before seen — not ever, at any time, seen before — is this universal form of yours, by me or by others; having seen that, I am thrilled. And my mind is deeply agitated by fear. Therefore show me that very form of mine, O God, the form which has me as a friend. Be gracious, O Lord of gods; O abode of the world — the abode of the world is [what is meant by] 'jagannivāsa' — O abode of the world.
Gītā Vāhini
భక్తులయొక్క యశస్సును కోరి భగవంతుడు మానవాతీతమైన కార్యములను కూడా చేయించును. తాను సాక్షీభూతుడై సర్వకర్తయై నాటకమాడించి, ఏమియూ ఎరుగని వానివలే నటించును. ఇది తన భక్తుల యందుగల వాత్సల్యము. అర్జునుడు, కన్నులు తుడుచుకొనుచు, చేతులు జోడించి, “పరమాత్మా! నేనెన్నడూ కనీవినీ ఎరుగని విశ్వస్వరూపమును చూచితిని. అందలి సత్యమును తెలిసికొంటిని. ఆ భయంకర తేజః పుంజములు నన్ను కాల్చివేయుచున్నవి. నా దేహము మండుచున్నది. ఒకపరి నీ మొదటి రూపమైన ప్రసన్న స్వరూపమును చూపుము, శాంతింపజేయుము. తాళలేను తండ్రీ! చూడలేను” అని మొర పెట్టుకొన్నాడు.
In plain words
Seeking glory for His devotees, God has them do even superhuman deeds. He Himself, the witness and the doer of all, directs the play, and then acts as one who knows nothing at all. Such is the tender affection He has for His devotees. Wiping his eyes and joining his hands, Arjuna cried out, “Paramātma! I have seen the Viśvasvarūpa, which I had never seen or heard of before. I have come to know the truth in it. Those terrible masses of radiance are burning me up. My body is on fire. Show me once more Your first form, Your gracious svarūpa, and calm me. I cannot bear it, Father! I cannot look!”