In Bhagavad Gita 9.5, Krishna says that beings do not really dwell in him; behold his divine power: his Self sustains and brings forth beings, yet does not dwell in them.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि
पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम्
भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो
ममात्मा भूतभावनः ॥ ९-५ ॥
na ca matsthāni bhūtāni
paśya me yogamaiśvaram
bhūtabhṛnna ca bhūtastho
mamātmā bhūtabhāvanaḥ
English transliteration na cha matsthaani bhootaani
pashya me yogamaishvaram
bhootabhrinna cha bhootastho
mamaatmaa bhootabhaavanah ॥ 9.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
And yet beings do not dwell in Me. Behold My divine yoga! My Self, which sustains beings and brings them into existence, does not dwell in them.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| मत्स्थानि matsthāni | existing in Me |
| भूतानि bhūtāni | beings |
| पश्य paśya | behold |
| मे me | My |
| योगम् yogam | yoga, mystery |
| ऐश्वरम् aiśvaram | divine |
| भूतभृत् bhūtabhṛt | sustainer of beings bhūta (beings) + bhṛt (sustainer) |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| भूतस्थः bhūtasthaḥ | dwelling in beings bhūta (beings) + sthaḥ (dwelling) |
| मम mama | My |
| आत्मा ātmā | Self |
| भूतभावनः bhūtabhāvanaḥ | bringing beings into existence bhūta (beings) + bhāvanaḥ (bringing forth) |
Word-wise Chanting
- na ca mat–sthā–ni bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables na cha mat-sthaa-ni bhoo-taa-ni
- paś–ya me yo–ga–maiś–va–ram | 8 syllables pash-ya me yo-ga-maish-va-ram
- bhū–ta–bhṛn–na ca bhū–tas–tho 8 syllables bhoo-ta-bhrin-na cha bhoo-tas-tho
- ma–māt–mā bhū–ta–bhā–va–naḥ || 9-5 8 syllables ma-maat-maa bhoo-ta-bhaa-va-nah
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 9 Verse 5
Context
Krishna deepens the paradox of 9.4.
Meaning
Krishna now says even more: in the deepest sense, beings do not dwell in him either. He calls this his yoga aiśvara, divine mystery. His Self sustains and creates all beings yet remains untouched by them. The Divine is wholly involved and wholly free at once.
Ordinary logic cannot capture this. The verse invites wonder rather than analysis. Like a dreamer who creates and sustains a dream yet is not affected by it, the Divine supports everything without being bound.
In Practice
Spend a moment in wonder at the mystery of existence, without trying to explain it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (The Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret). 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.