In Bhagavad Gita 7.9, Krishna says he is the pure fragrance of the earth, the brilliance in fire, the life in all beings and the austerity in ascetics.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
पुण्यो गन्धः पृथिव्यां च
तेजश्चास्मि विभावसौ
जीवनं सर्वभूतेषु
तपश्चास्मि तपस्विषु ॥ ७-९ ॥
puṇyo gandhaḥ pṛthivyāṃ ca
tejaścāsmi vibhāvasau
jīvanaṃ sarvabhūteṣu
tapaścāsmi tapasviṣu
English transliteration punyo gandhah prithivyaam cha
tejashchaasmi vibhaavasau
jeevanam sarvabhooteshu
tapashchaasmi tapasvishu ॥ 7.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I am the pure fragrance of the earth and the brilliance in fire. I am the life in all beings and the austerity in ascetics.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| पुण्यः puṇyaḥ | pure |
| गन्धः gandhaḥ | fragrance |
| पृथिव्याम् pṛthivyām | in the earth |
| च ca | and |
| तेजः tejaḥ | brilliance |
| च ca | and |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| विभावसौ vibhāvasau | in fire |
| जीवनम् jīvanam | life |
| सर्वभूतेषु sarvabhūteṣu | in all beings |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| च ca | and |
| अस्मि asmi | I am |
| तपस्विषु tapasviṣu | in ascetics |
Word-wise Chanting
- puṇ–yo gan–dhaḥ pṛ–thiv–yāṃ ca 8 syllables pun-yo gan-dhah pri-thiv-yaam cha
- te–jaś–cās–mi vi–bhā–va–sau | 8 syllables te-jash-chaas-mi vi-bhaa-va-sau
- jī–va–naṃ sar–va–bhū–te–ṣu 8 syllables jee-va-nam sar-va-bhoo-te-shu
- ta–paś–cās–mi ta–pas–vi–ṣu || 7-9 8 syllables ta-pash-chaas-mi ta-pas-vi-shu
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 9
Context
The list of divine essences continues (7.8–7.11).
Meaning
Fragrance is the characteristic quality of earth in Indian thought; brilliance is the essence of fire; life is what animates every being; and tapas, disciplined effort, is the essence of an ascetic. In each case, the best and most essential quality is the Divine expressing itself.
When we smell fresh earth after rain, feel the warmth of a fire, sense the life in a growing plant or see someone’s disciplined dedication, we touch the Divine. Recognising this transforms ordinary perception into reverence.
In Practice
Notice the scent of earth, flowers or rain today, and silently recognise the Divine in it.
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.