In Bhagavad Gita 10.8, Krishna says he is the source of everything and everything proceeds from him; knowing this, the wise worship him with loving feeling.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो
मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते
इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां
बुधा भावसमन्विताः ॥ १०-८ ॥
ahaṃ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaṃ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māṃ
budhā bhāvasamanvitāḥ
English transliteration aham sarvasya prabhavo
mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matvaa bhajante maam
budhaa bhaavasamanvitaah ॥ 10.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I am the source of all; from Me everything proceeds. Knowing this, the wise worship Me with loving devotion.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अहम् aham | I |
| सर्वस्य sarvasya | of all |
| प्रभवः prabhavaḥ | source |
| मत्तः mattaḥ | from Me |
| सर्वम् sarvam | everything |
| प्रवर्तते pravartate | proceeds |
| इति iti | thus |
| मत्वा matvā | knowing |
| भजन्ते bhajante | worship |
| माम् mām | Me |
| बुधाः budhāḥ | the wise |
| भावसमन्विताः bhāvasamanvitāḥ | with loving devotion bhāva (loving feeling) + samanvitāḥ (endowed) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–haṃ sar–vas–ya pra–bha–vo 8 syllables a-ham sar-vas-ya pra-bha-vo
- mat–taḥ sar–vaṃ pra–var–ta–te | 8 syllables mat-tah sar-vam pra-var-ta-te
- i–ti mat–vā bha–jan–te māṃ 8 syllables i-ti mat-vaa bha-jan-te maam
- bu–dhā bhā–va–sa–man–vi–tāḥ || 10-8 8 syllables bu-dhaa bhaa-va-sa-man-vi-taah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 10 Verse 8
Context
Krishna begins a group of four verses (10.8–10.11) often regarded as the heart of the Gita.
Meaning
The Divine is prabhava, the origin of all, and everything pravartate, comes forth and functions, from it. The budhāḥ, the wise, understand this and respond not with cold knowledge but with bhāva, deep feeling and love. True understanding naturally becomes devotion.
Knowledge and love are not opposed. When we truly understand that all comes from the Divine, gratitude and love arise spontaneously.
In Practice
Reflect on one thing you are grateful for, and trace it back to its ultimate source in the Divine.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga (The Divine Manifestations). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.