In Bhagavad Gita 8.18, Krishna says that at the coming of Brahma’s day all manifest things emerge from the unmanifest, and at the coming of his night they dissolve into it again.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अव्यक्ताद् व्यक्तयः सर्वाः
प्रभवन्त्यहरागमे
रात्र्यागमे प्रलीयन्ते
तत्रैवाव्यक्तसंज्ञके ॥ ८-१८ ॥
avyaktād vyaktayaḥ sarvāḥ
prabhavantyaharāgame
rātryāgame pralīyante
tatraivāvyaktasaṃjñake
English transliteration avyaktaad vyaktayah sarvaah
prabhavantyaharaagame
raatryaagame praleeyante
tatraivaavyaktasamjnake ॥ 8.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
At the coming of day, all manifest things arise from the unmanifest; at the coming of night, they dissolve into that very thing called the unmanifest.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अव्यक्तात् avyaktāt | from the unmanifest |
| व्यक्तयः vyaktayaḥ | manifest things |
| सर्वाः sarvāḥ | all |
| प्रभवन्ति prabhavanti | arise |
| अहरागमे aharāgame | at the coming of day ahaḥ (day) + āgame (at the coming) |
| रात्र्यागमे rātryāgame | at the coming of night rātri (night) + āgame (at the coming) |
| प्रलीयन्ते pralīyante | dissolve |
| तत्र tatra | there |
| एव eva | indeed |
| अव्यक्तसंज्ञके avyaktasaṃjñake | in that called the unmanifest avyakta (unmanifest) + saṃjñake (called) |
Word-wise Chanting
- av–yak–tād vyak–ta–yaḥ sar–vāḥ 8 syllables av-yak-taad vyak-ta-yah sar-vaah
- pra–bha–van–tya–ha–rā–ga–me | 8 syllables pra-bha-van-tya-ha-raa-ga-me
- rāt–ryā–ga–me pra–lī–yan–te 8 syllables raat-ryaa-ga-me pra-lee-yan-te
- tat–rai–vāv–yak–ta–saṃ–jña–ke || 8-18 8 syllables tat-rai-vaav-yak-ta-sam-jna-ke
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 8 Verse 18
Context
Krishna continues describing the cosmic cycle (8.17–8.19).
Meaning
Creation is a rhythm of emergence and withdrawal. At the dawn of Brahmā’s day, all forms emerge from avyakta, the unmanifest; at nightfall, they withdraw into it again. Nothing is truly destroyed; it returns to its unmanifest source.
Our own lives follow similar rhythms: waking and sleep, activity and rest, birth and death. Seeing this pattern helps us accept change as part of a larger order.
In Practice
As you fall asleep tonight, notice the mind dissolving into stillness, a small image of the cosmic night.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga (The Imperishable Absolute). 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.