In Bhagavad Gita 18.61, Krishna says the Lord dwells in the heart of all beings, causing them to revolve by his power as if mounted on a machine.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां
हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति
भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि
यन्त्रारूढानि मायया ॥ १८-६१ ॥
īśvaraḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ
hṛddeśe’rjuna tiṣṭhati
bhrāmayansarvabhūtāni
yantrārūḍhāni māyayā
English transliteration eeshvarah sarvabhootaanaam
hriddeshe’rjuna tishthati
bhraamayansarvabhootaani
yantraaroodhaani maayayaa ॥ 18.61 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Lord dwells in the hearts of all beings, O Arjuna, causing all beings to revolve by His power of maya, as if mounted on a machine.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ईश्वरः īśvaraḥ | the Lord |
| सर्वभूतानाम् sarvabhūtānām | of all beings |
| हृद्देशे hṛddeśe | in the hearts hṛt (heart) + deśe (region) |
| अर्जुन arjuna | O Arjuna |
| तिष्ठति tiṣṭhati | dwells |
| भ्रामयन् bhrāmayan | causing to revolve |
| सर्वभूतानि sarvabhūtāni | all beings |
| यन्त्रारूढानि yantrārūḍhāni | as if mounted on a machine yantra (machine) + ārūḍhāni (mounted) |
| मायया māyayā | by power of māyā |
Word-wise Chanting
- īś–va–raḥ sar–va–bhū–tā–nāṃ 8 syllables eesh-va-rah sar-va-bhoo-taa-naam
- hṛd–de–śe–‘rju–na tiṣ–ṭha–ti | 8 syllables hrid-de-she-‘rju-na tish-tha-ti
- bhrā–ma–yan–sar–va–bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables bhraa-ma-yan-sar-va-bhoo-taa-ni
- yan–trā–rū–ḍhā–ni mā–ya–yā || 18-61 8 syllables yan-traa-roo-dhaa-ni maa-ya-yaa
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 18 Verse 61
Context
Krishna reveals the inner Lord and calls for surrender (18.61–18.62).
Meaning
The īśvara, the Lord, dwells in every heart. By māyā, the divine power, it moves all beings as if they were yantra-ārūḍha, mounted on a machine, such as a potter’s wheel or a puppet stage. Beings act according to the forces of nature and karma, all within the Lord’s order.
This does not deny human responsibility; it reveals the larger order in which we act. Since the Lord is within us, the way to freedom is to turn to it.
In Practice
Turn inward today to the Lord who dwells in your heart, and listen.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.