In Bhagavad Gita 7.5, Krishna says that beyond his lower nature is his higher nature, the life principle, by which this universe is sustained.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां
प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम्
जीवभूतां महाबाहो
ययेदं धार्यते जगत् ॥ ७-५ ॥
apareyamitastvanyāṃ
prakṛtiṃ viddhi me parām
jīvabhūtāṃ mahābāho
yayedaṃ dhāryate jagat
English transliteration apareyamitastvanyaam
prakritim viddhi me paraam
jeevabhootaam mahaabaaho
yayedam dhaaryate jagat ॥ 7.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
This is My lower nature. But know that different from it is My higher nature, the life-element, O mighty-armed, by which this universe is sustained.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अपरा aparā | lower |
| इयम् iyam | this |
| इतः itaḥ | from this |
| तु tu | but |
| अन्याम् anyām | different |
| प्रकृतिम् prakṛtim | nature |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| मे me | My |
| पराम् parām | higher |
| जीवभूताम् jīvabhūtām | the life-element jīva (life, soul) + bhūtām (being) |
| महाबाहो mahābāho | O mighty-armed |
| यया yayā | by which |
| इदम् idam | this |
| धार्यते dhāryate | is sustained |
| जगत् jagat | universe |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–pa–re–ya–mi–tas–tvan–yāṃ 8 syllables a-pa-re-ya-mi-tas-tvan-yaam
- pra–kṛ–tiṃ vid–dhi me pa–rām | 8 syllables pra-kri-tim vid-dhi me pa-raam
- jī–va–bhū–tāṃ ma–hā–bā–ho 8 syllables jee-va-bhoo-taam ma-haa-baa-ho
- ya–ye–daṃ dhār–ya–te ja–gat || 7-5 8 syllables ya-ye-dam dhaar-ya-te ja-gat
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 5
Context
Krishna describes his higher nature (continuing 7.4).
Meaning
Besides the eightfold material nature, there is parā prakṛti, the higher nature: jīva-bhūta, the conscious life principle, the souls that inhabit and animate all beings. It is this conscious principle that sustains, dhāryate, the universe. Without it, matter would be lifeless.
The verse distinguishes matter and consciousness while placing both within the Divine. We are not merely bodies or minds; we are expressions of the Divine’s higher, conscious nature. This gives every living being a sacred dignity.
In Practice
Look at a living being today and recognise the conscious life within it as the Divine’s higher nature.
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.