In Bhagavad Gita 7.4, Krishna describes his lower nature as eightfold: earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect and ego.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः
खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च
अहङ्कार इतीयं मे
भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा ॥ ७-४ ॥
bhūmirāpo’nalo vāyuḥ
khaṃ mano buddhireva ca
ahaṅkāra itīyaṃ me
bhinnā prakṛtiraṣṭadhā
English transliteration bhoomiraapo’nalo vaayuh
kham mano buddhireva cha
ahankaara iteeyam me
bhinnaa prakritirashtadhaa ॥ 7.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect and ego: thus is My nature divided eightfold.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| भूमिः bhūmiḥ | earth |
| आपः āpaḥ | water |
| अनलः analaḥ | fire |
| वायुः vāyuḥ | air |
| खम् kham | space |
| मनः manaḥ | mind |
| बुद्धिः buddhiḥ | intellect |
| एव eva | indeed |
| च ca | and |
| अहङ्कारः ahaṅkāraḥ | ego |
| इति iti | thus |
| इयम् iyam | this |
| मे me | My |
| भिन्ना bhinnā | divided |
| प्रकृतिः prakṛtiḥ | nature |
| अष्टधा aṣṭadhā | eightfold |
Word-wise Chanting
- bhū–mi–rā–po–‘na–lo vā–yuḥ 8 syllables bhoo-mi-raa-po-‘na-lo vaa-yuh
- khaṃ ma–no bud–dhi–re–va ca | 8 syllables kham ma-no bud-dhi-re-va cha
- a–haṅ–kā–ra i–tī–yaṃ me 8 syllables a-han-kaa-ra i-tee-yam me
- bhin–nā pra–kṛ–ti–raṣ–ṭa–dhā || 7-4 8 syllables bhin-naa pra-kri-ti-rash-ta-dhaa
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 7 Verse 4
Context
Krishna begins to describe his two natures, lower and higher (7.4–7.7).
Meaning
The whole material universe, including the subtle mind, is Krishna’s aparā prakṛti, lower nature. It has eight components: the five elements, earth, water, fire, air and space, and three subtle principles, manas, the mind; buddhi, the intellect; and ahaṅkāra, the ego-sense. Everything we perceive outwardly and inwardly belongs to this nature.
It is striking that mind, intellect and ego are placed together with the physical elements. They are subtler, but still part of nature, not the Self. This helps us see that our thoughts and personality are instruments, while our true identity lies deeper.
In Practice
Observe your thoughts today as part of nature, like the weather. Rest in the awareness that observes them.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga (Knowledge and Realisation). 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.