📿 Shloka Collection

Prakritim Svam Avashtabhya

Gita 9.8 Bhagavad Gita

📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9 — Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga

प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः ।

भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात् ॥

Prakritim svam avashtabhya visrijami punah punah

Bhuta-gramam imam kritsnam avasham prakriter vashat

Word-by-Word Meaning

प्रकृतिं स्वाम्

my own prakriti

अवष्टभ्य

taking hold of, presiding over

विसृजामि

I send forth, I manifest

पुनः पुनः

again and again

भूतग्रामम्

the multitude of beings

इमं कृत्स्नम्

this entire

अवशं

helpless, subject to

प्रकृतेर्वशात्

under the sway of prakriti

Explanation in Simple English

Krishna explains the mechanism. Taking hold of his own prakriti, he sends forth this entire host of beings — again and again. These beings are helpless in the matter; they come into existence under prakriti's power, not by their own choice.

This is not a punishment. It is simply how nature works. A seed does not decide to sprout — the conditions bring it forth. Beings emerge because prakriti's momentum carries them. Until a being rises above prakriti's pull, the cycle continues.

Context and Significance

Shloka 9.7 described the cosmic cycle; 9.8 describes how it operates. 'Avasham prakriter vashat' — this phrase makes clear that beings are subject to prakriti, while Krishna stands beyond it.

Gita 13.21 echoes the same idea: prakriti is the cause of all action and effect, while purusha (the conscious self) is the experiencer.

Chapter 9 · 8 / 34

Chapter 9 · 8 / 34 Next →