In Bhagavad Gita 8.4, Krishna says the perishable world is adhibhuta, the cosmic Person is adhidaiva, and he himself, within the body, is adhiyajna, the Lord of sacrifice.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अधिभूतं क्षरो भावः
पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम्
अधियज्ञोऽहमेवात्र
देहे देहभृतां वर ॥ ८-४ ॥
adhibhūtaṃ kṣaro bhāvaḥ
puruṣaścādhidaivatam
adhiyajño’hamevātra
dehe dehabhṛtāṃ vara
English transliteration adhibhootam ksharo bhaavah
purushashchaadhidaivatam
adhiyajno’hamevaatra
dehe dehabhritaam vara ॥ 8.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The perishable existence is the principle of beings; the cosmic Person is the principle of the gods; and I Myself, here in the body, am the principle of sacrifice, O best of the embodied.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अधिभूतम् adhibhūtam | the principle of beings |
| क्षरः kṣaraḥ | perishable |
| भावः bhāvaḥ | existence |
| पुरुषः puruṣaḥ | the cosmic Person |
| च ca | and |
| अधिदैवतम् adhidaivatam | the principle of the gods |
| अधियज्ञः adhiyajñaḥ | the principle of sacrifice |
| अहम् aham | I |
| एव eva | Myself |
| अत्र atra | here |
| देहे dehe | in the body |
| देहभृताम् dehabhṛtām | of the embodied |
| वर vara | O best |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–dhi–bhū–taṃ kṣa–ro bhā–vaḥ 8 syllables a-dhi-bhoo-tam ksha-ro bhaa-vah
- pu–ru–ṣaś–cā–dhi–dai–va–tam | 8 syllables pu-ru-shash-chaa-dhi-dai-va-tam
- a–dhi–ya–jño–‘ha–me–vāt–ra 8 syllables a-dhi-ya-jno-‘ha-me-vaat-ra
- de–he de–ha–bhṛ–tāṃ va–ra || 8-4 8 syllables de-he de-ha-bhri-taam va-ra
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 4
Context
Krishna completes his answers to Arjuna’s questions (continuing 8.3).
Meaning
Adhibhūta is kṣara bhāva, the perishable, changing existence of the material world. Adhidaiva is the Puruṣa, the cosmic Person who presides over the powers of nature. And adhiyajña, the one to whom all sacrifice is offered and who receives it, is Krishna himself, dwelling within the body of every being.
The Divine is not distant: it lives within us as the inner Lord who receives every offering. Every act done in the right spirit becomes an offering to this indwelling presence.
In Practice
Before an action today, silently offer it to the Divine who dwells within your own heart.
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.