यथाकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायुः सर्वत्रगो महान् ।
तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय ॥6॥
yathākāśha-sthito nityaṁ vāyuḥ sarvatra-go mahān
tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni mat-sthānītyupadhāraya
श्लोक ६: जिस प्रकार महान वायु हर ओर बहते हुए भी सदैव आकाश में ही स्थित रहती है, उसी प्रकार तुम यह समझो कि सभी प्राणी मेरे ही भीतर स्थित हैं।
Shloka 6: Just as the mighty wind, though moving everywhere, always remains confined within the sky, similarly, you should understand that all beings exist within Me.
In Bhagavad Gita verse 9.6, Lord Krishna presents a profound cosmic analogy to illustrate His relationship with all creation. He states: "Just as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, always rests in ethereal space, know that in the same manner all beings rest in Me." This verse appears in Chapter 9, which focuses on the most confidential knowledge about the Supreme Being's nature.
The Sanskrit original, "yathākāśa-sthito nityaṃ vāyuḥ sarvatra-go mahān, tathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni mat-sthānīty upadhāraya," uses the metaphor of wind and space to convey a complex spiritual truth. The wind, though powerful and ever-moving, cannot exist without the sky that contains it. Similarly, all living beings—despite their apparent independence—exist within the divine consciousness of Krishna.
This verse reveals the paradoxical relationship between Krishna and His creation. Though all beings reside within Him and depend on Him for their existence, Krishna maintains His transcendental position. Just as space remains unaffected by everything moving within it, Krishna remains untouched by the activities of the living entities that depend on Him. This illustrates His simultaneous immanence (presence throughout creation) and transcendence (separation from creation).
Space, as Krishna describes it, has remarkable properties that make it an apt metaphor for understanding the divine nature. Space is indivisible—we may build walls that appear to divide it, but space itself remains continuous and whole. Similarly, though beings may appear separate, on a deeper level, all exist within the unified consciousness of Krishna. Space is also unaffected by what it contains—fragrances or odors don't alter space itself. Likewise, Krishna remains unchanged by the actions of beings within His creation.
The verse highlights the omnipresence of the Supreme Being. Just as space pervades everything (even comprising over 99% of an atom), Krishna pervades all of creation while maintaining His distinct identity. This concept challenges our material understanding, as we tend to think that if something is contained within something else, the container must be affected by or limited to what it contains. Krishna defies this limitation, being simultaneously the container of all reality while remaining unbounded by it.
This verse also suggests something profound about our existence. While we have apparent freedom—like the wind moving in all directions—there are ultimate boundaries to this freedom. The wind can never leave the sky that contains it. Similarly, while we may exercise free will and make our own choices, we can never truly separate ourselves from Krishna's divine presence. Our independence exists within the greater context of dependence on the Supreme.
Understanding this verse invites a shift in perspective. Rather than seeing ourselves as completely independent entities, we can recognize our place within a greater conscious whole. This doesn't diminish our individuality but places it in proper context. Just as the wind's movement creates patterns and serves purposes within the sky, our lives can find meaning and purpose when we recognize our position within Krishna's divine plan. This realization can inspire both a sense of humility about our position and wonder at being part of something infinitely greater than ourselves.
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