In Bhagavad Gita 15.13, Krishna says that entering the earth he sustains all beings with his energy, and becoming the juicy soma, he nourishes all plants.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
गामाविश्य च भूतानि
धारयाम्यहमोजसा
पुष्णामि चौषधीः सर्वाः
सोमो भूत्वा रसात्मकः ॥ १५-१३ ॥
gāmāviśya ca bhūtāni
dhārayāmyahamojasā
puṣṇāmi cauṣadhīḥ sarvāḥ
somo bhūtvā rasātmakaḥ
English transliteration gaamaavishya cha bhootaani
dhaarayaamyahamojasaa
pushnaami chaushadheeh sarvaah
somo bhootvaa rasaatmakah ॥ 15.13 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Entering the earth, I sustain all beings by My energy; and becoming the moon, full of nourishing sap, I nourish all plants.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| गाम् gām | the earth |
| आविश्य āviśya | entering |
| च ca | and |
| भूतानि bhūtāni | beings |
| धारयामि dhārayāmi | sustain |
| अहम् aham | I |
| ओजसा ojasā | by My energy |
| पुष्णामि puṣṇāmi | nourish |
| च ca | and |
| औषधीः auṣadhīḥ | plants |
| सर्वाः sarvāḥ | all |
| सोमः somaḥ | the moon, soma |
| भूत्वा bhūtvā | becoming |
| रसात्मकः rasātmakaḥ | full of nourishing sap rasa (sap) + ātmakaḥ (nature) |
Word-wise Chanting
- gā–mā–viś–ya ca bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables gaa-maa-vish-ya cha bhoo-taa-ni
- dhā–ra–yām–ya–ha–mo–ja–sā | 8 syllables dhaa-ra-yaam-ya-ha-mo-ja-saa
- puṣ–ṇā–mi cau–ṣa–dhīḥ sar–vāḥ 8 syllables push-naa-mi chau-sha-dheeh sar-vaah
- so–mo bhūt–vā ra–sāt–ma–kaḥ || 15-13 8 syllables so-mo bhoot-vaa ra-saat-ma-kah
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 15 Verse 13
Context
Krishna describes his presence in the world (15.12–15.15).
Meaning
The Divine enters the earth and holds all beings by its ojas, vital energy. As soma, identified with the moon and its nourishing influence, it fills plants with rasa, life-giving sap. The fertility of the earth and growth of plants are the Divine at work.
Every meal is a gift of the Divine’s nourishing power. Food becomes sacred when we see it this way.
In Practice
Before eating today, remember that the Divine nourished the plants that feed you.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga (The Supreme Person). 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.