Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 11: The Vision of the Cosmic Form
Bhagavad Gita 11.50
इत्यर्जुनं वासुदेवस्तथोक्त्वा
स्वकं रूपं दर्शयामास भूयः ।
आश्वासयामास च भीतमेनं
भूत्वा पुनः सौम्यवपुर्महात्मा ॥
ityarjunaṃ vāsudevastathoktvā svakaṃ rūpaṃ darśayāmāsa bhūyaḥ | āśvāsayāmāsa ca bhītamenaṃ bhūtvā punaḥ saumyavapurmahātmā ||
Having spoken to Arjuna in this way, Krishna showed him his own form again. Taking on his gentle appearance once more, the great one comforted the frightened Arjuna.
Modern context
Sanjaya reports that Krishna took back his gentle human form and comforted the frightened Arjuna. The word saumya, gentle, is the opposite of ugra, terrible. The same being can wear both faces. This matters for how we see the people around us too. Someone who can be fierce when needed may also be the gentlest friend we have.