Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7, Verse 6: I Am the Origin and Dissolution of All

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

Bhagavad Gita 7.6 · Chapter 7, Jnana Vijnana Yoga

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.

In one line: All beings arise from the Divine’s two natures; the Divine is the origin and end of all.

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

Metre: Anuṣṭubh (śloka) · 4 pādas of 8 syllables

  1. e–tad–yo–nī–ni bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables e-tad-yo-nee-ni bhoo-taa-ni
  2. sar–vā–ṇīt–yu–pa–dhā–ra–ya | 8 syllables sar-vaa-neet-yu-pa-dhaa-ra-ya
  3. a–haṃ kṛt–snas–ya ja–ga–taḥ 8 syllables a-ham krit-snas-ya ja-ga-tah
  4. 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.

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.