स्थाने हृषीकेश तव प्रकीर्त्या जगत् प्रहृष्यत्यनुरज्यते च। रक्षांसि भीतानि दिशो द्रवन्ति सर्वे नमस्यन्ति च सिद्धसङ्घाः ॥
sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā jagat prahṛṣyatyanurajyate ca| rakṣāṃsi bhītāni diśo dravanti sarve namasyanti ca siddhasaṅghāḥ ||
Rightly so, O Hṛṣīkeśa — the world rejoices at Your glory; demons flee in terror while the bands of Siddhas bow!
Word by word (3)
- sthāne hṛṣīkeśa
- — Rightly so, O Hṛṣīkeśa! / It is fitting, O Lord of the Senses! · Sthāne = in (its) place = rightly so, appropriately, fittingly (locative of sthāna = place, position; used idiomatically = 'it stands in its proper place'). Hṛṣīkeśa = O Hṛṣīkeśa! — one of Krishna's most significant epithets: hṛṣīka = senses (from hṛṣīk = bristling, excited — the senses in their animated state); īśa = lord, sovereign. Hṛṣīkeśa = Lord/Controller of the Senses = the one who commands the inner faculties. This epithet is Arjuna's acknowledgment: after having his own senses overwhelmed (pravyathita-antar-ātmā of V24), he now addresses the one who IS the controller of all senses. The sthāne = Arjuna's first word of acceptance: what he witnessed was appropriate.
- rakṣāṃsi bhītāni diśo dravanti
- — the Rākṣasas, frightened, flee to all directions · Rakṣāṃsi = Rākṣasas (demonic/night-beings who obstruct dharma — rakṣ = to protect [themselves] OR to harm others; name from their protective/obstructing quality). Bhītāni = frightened (past participle of √bhī = to fear). Diśaḥ dravanti = flee to the directions (diśaḥ = the four/eight directions; dravanti = to run/flee; same dravanti root as V11.28's rivers flowing). The Rākṣasas flee in all directions = the cosmic form's revelation destroys the power of all that opposes dharma. This contrasts with the siddha-saṅghāḥ who bow — two responses to the same cosmic truth: those aligned with dharma bow; those opposed to dharma flee.
- sarve namasyanti ca siddha-saṅghāḥ
- — and all the bands of Siddhas bow in reverence · Namasyanti = bow, salute (from namas = bow + yati = does; namasyati = pays homage). Siddha-saṅghāḥ = bands/hosts of Siddhas (siddha = accomplished, perfected — one who has achieved spiritual perfection through practice; saṅgha = band, assembly, company). The Siddhas here are the spiritual elite — those whose practice has brought them to divine attainment. That the Siddhas (the most accomplished spiritual beings) all bow (sarve) = the cosmic revelation validates and transcends every spiritual path. Even those who have arrived bow further to what is greater.
Arjuna opens his response to kālo'smi with the word sthāne (rightly so, fitting). After terror and stammering (V35), the first word is acceptance. He describes the world's two responses: demons flee and perfected ones bow. The first word of Arjuna's post-kālo'smi speech is a transformation marker.
A modern analogy
Like the moment after a devastating truth sinks in, and instead of screaming or running you find yourself saying: 'Of course. This is how it had to be.' The acceptance doesn't erase the terror — it locates it within a larger rightness.
Sit with this: Arjuna's first word after the most terrifying revelation in the Gita is sthāne (rightly so / it is fitting). What does it take to respond to overwhelming truth with 'this is right' rather than 'this is wrong'? What shifts in your inner landscape to make that possible?
V36 marks the beginning of the Arjuna praise-arc (V36-V46), which is the counter-movement to the terror-arc (V20-V35). The opening sthāne (rightly so) is philosophically significant: it is the acceptance that the cosmic form's nature — including its destructive/consuming aspect — is appropriate, fitting, dharmic. This acceptance is the beginning of śraddhā (faith based on understanding) rather than bhaya (fear). The bifurcation — demons flee (opposing dharma) vs. Siddhas bow (aligned with dharma) — shows the same cosmic revelation producing diametrically opposite responses depending on one's orientation. The cosmic vision is a dharmic mirror: what you are is what you see.
Advaita lens
Sthāne = the Advaitic recognition: what IS, is appropriate (yathā vastu = things as they are). The cosmic vision, including kālo'smi, is the revelation of Reality as it is — not as we wish it to be, but as it is. The Siddhas bow because they recognize this Reality. The Rākṣasas flee because their identity is built on opposition to this Reality. Advaita's sthāne = tat tvam asi (you are that) = the recognition that the cosmic form is your own deepest nature — 'rightly so' because it is YOU.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
It is meet, O Hrishikesa, that the world is delighted and rejoices by Thy praise; Rakshasas fly in fear to all quarters, and all hosts of Siddhas bow to Thee. [1]
It is meet, O Hrishikesha, that the world is delighted and rejoices in Thy praise, that Rakshasas fly in fear to all quarters and all the hosts of Siddhas bow down to Thee in adoration. [4]
Worthily, Lord of Might! The whole world hath delight in Thy surpassing power, obeying Thee; the Rakshasas, in dread at sight of Thee, are sped to all four quarters; and the company of Siddhas sound Thy name. [7]
It is quite fit, O Hrishikesha, that the world is delighted and charmed by thy glory. The Rakshasas, terrified, fly to all directions; and all the hosts of Siddhas bow to thee. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Gods' hosts enter You; some join palms in fear — great seers and Siddhas sing 'Svasti!' and praise You with full hymns!
Overwhelmed with wonder, hair standing on end, Arjuna bowed and spoke to the God with joined palms.
Tusked mouths blazing like fires of Time — losing all direction, all peace; be gracious, O Deveśa, O World's Abode!
Arjuna sees his own people ready to die — and his body breaks before his mind can argue.
Your own imperfect path beats another's perfect path. Death in your own dharma is better. Another's dharma brings fear.
Peaceful, fearless, vowed to brahmacharya, mind on Krishna — yoked in practice, with the Supreme as the final goal.