In Bhagavad Gita 15.7, Krishna says an eternal fragment of himself becomes the living soul in the world of life and draws to itself the mind and the five senses that rest in nature.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ममैवांशो जीवलोके
जीवभूतः सनातनः
मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि
प्रकृतिस्थानि कर्षति ॥ १५-७ ॥
mamaivāṃśo jīvaloke
jīvabhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ
manaḥṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi
prakṛtisthāni karṣati
English transliteration mamaivaamsho jeevaloke
jeevabhootah sanaatanah
manahshashthaaneendriyaani
prakritisthaani karshati ॥ 15.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
An eternal portion of Myself, having become the living soul in the world of living beings, draws to itself the mind and the five senses, which rest in nature.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मम mama | My |
| एव eva | indeed |
| अंशः aṃśaḥ | portion |
| जीवलोके jīvaloke | in the world of living beings jīva (living beings) + loke (world) |
| जीवभूतः jīvabhūtaḥ | having become the living soul jīva (living soul) + bhūtaḥ (become) |
| सनातनः sanātanaḥ | eternal |
| मनःषष्ठानि manaḥṣaṣṭhāni | with the mind as the sixth manaḥ (mind) + ṣaṣṭhāni (sixth) |
| इन्द्रियाणि indriyāṇi | senses |
| प्रकृतिस्थानि prakṛtisthāni | resting in nature prakṛti (nature) + sthāni (resting) |
| कर्षति karṣati | draws |
Word-wise Chanting
- ma–mai–vāṃ–śo jī–va–lo–ke 8 syllables ma-mai-vaam-sho jee-va-lo-ke
- jī–va–bhū–taḥ sa–nā–ta–naḥ | 8 syllables jee-va-bhoo-tah sa-naa-ta-nah
- ma–naḥ–ṣaṣ–ṭhā–nīn–dri–yā–ṇi 8 syllables ma-nah-shash-thaa-neen-dri-yaa-ni
- pra–kṛ–tis–thā–ni kar–ṣa–ti || 15-7 8 syllables pra-kri-tis-thaa-ni kar-sha-ti
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 7
Context
Krishna explains the nature of the individual soul (15.7–15.11).
Meaning
Every jīva, individual soul, is a sanātana aṃśa, an eternal part of the Divine. Living in the world, it draws around itself the mind and five senses, which belong to prakṛti, nature, and through them experiences the world.
We are not separate from the Divine but eternal portions of it. Our mind and senses are instruments we gather; our essence is divine.
In Practice
Remind yourself today: “I am an eternal part of the Divine,” and let it shape how you see yourself and others.
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.