In Bhagavad Gita 7.6, Krishna says that all beings arise from these two natures, and he is the source and dissolution of the whole universe.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
एतद्योनीनि भूतानि
सर्वाणीत्युपधारय
अहं कृत्स्नस्य जगतः
प्रभवः प्रलयस्तथा ॥ ७-६ ॥
etadyonīni bhūtāni
sarvāṇītyupadhāraya
ahaṃ kṛtsnasya jagataḥ
prabhavaḥ pralayastathā
English transliteration etadyoneeni bhootaani
sarvaaneetyupadhaaraya
aham kritsnasya jagatah
prabhavah pralayastathaa ॥ 7.6 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Know that all beings have these two natures as their source. I am the origin of the whole universe and also its dissolution.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एतद्योनीनि etadyonīni | having these as their source etat (these) + yonīni (sources) |
| भूतानि bhūtāni | beings |
| सर्वाणि sarvāṇi | all |
| इति iti | thus |
| उपधारय upadhāraya | know |
| अहम् aham | I |
| कृत्स्नस्य kṛtsnasya | of the whole |
| जगतः jagataḥ | universe |
| प्रभवः prabhavaḥ | origin |
| प्रलयः pralayaḥ | dissolution |
| तथा tathā | also |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–tad–yo–nī–ni bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables e-tad-yo-nee-ni bhoo-taa-ni
- sar–vā–ṇīt–yu–pa–dhā–ra–ya | 8 syllables sar-vaa-neet-yu-pa-dhaa-ra-ya
- a–haṃ kṛt–snas–ya ja–ga–taḥ 8 syllables a-ham krit-snas-ya ja-ga-tah
- pra–bha–vaḥ pra–la–yas–ta–thā || 7-6 8 syllables pra-bha-vah pra-la-yas-ta-thaa
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 6
Context
Krishna concludes his description of his two natures (7.4–7.6).
Meaning
Every being is a combination of matter and consciousness, the lower and higher natures. Both belong to Krishna. Therefore he is the prabhava, the origin, and the pralaya, the dissolution, of the entire universe. Everything begins in him and returns to him.
The Divine is not only a creator who stands apart from creation, but the very source from which everything emerges and into which it dissolves. Like waves in the ocean, beings arise and subside in the Divine.
In Practice
Contemplate an ocean wave rising and falling back into the sea. Reflect that all beings rise and return to the Divine in the same way.
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.