प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः ।
भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात् ॥8॥
prakṛitiṁ svām avaṣhṭabhya visṛijāmi punaḥ punaḥ
bhūta-grāmam imaṁ kṛitsnam avaśhaṁ prakṛiter vaśhāt
श्लोक ८: अपनी भौतिक शक्ति को नियंत्रित करके, मैं इन असंख्य रूपों को उनके स्वभाव व प्रवृत्ति के अनुसार बार-बार उत्पन्न करता हूँ।
Shloka 8: By presiding over My material energy, I repeatedly generate these countless forms according to their inherent natures and tendencies.
In Bhagavad Gita verse 9.8, Krishna unveils the underlying mechanism of the universe, stressing His pivotal yet detached role in the eternal rhythm of creation and dissolution. He likens His actions to a master conductor, orchestrating the symphony of existence through the agency of His material nature, or prakriti. This prakriti, composed of the three gunas (modes of nature), serves as His instrument for repeatedly manifesting and dissolving all living entities and the world around them. He states that, utilizing His own material energy, He sends forth the multitude of beings, time after time, across cycles as vast as the days and nights of Brahma, the cosmic creator.
Krishna emphasizes that this process of creation is not a random or unconscious occurrence; it happens under His direct supervision and will. The entire cosmic order manifests and dissolves according to His intention, yet He remains untouched and unaffected by the results. He is not bound by the cycles He sets into motion, much like a painter remains separate from the ever-changing images on the canvas. The world, with all its vibrant diversity and recurring flux, is simply an expression of His creative power, governed but not possessed by Him.
The beings who populate this universe—the multitude Krishna refers to—do not act with complete independence. Instead, they are propelled by the forces of prakriti, the material nature shaped by their own past actions or karma. Krishna points out that all living entities are “helpless” or “powerless,” swept along by the currents of this nature, bound by their previous deeds and the intrinsic qualities they have cultivated over countless lifetimes. Thus, while individual souls experience the illusion of autonomy and control, they are ultimately influenced by the divine framework Krishna has established.
A vivid analogy can help clarify this concept. Imagine a mighty ocean whose waves continuously surge and recede. Each wave is unique but ultimately a fleeting manifestation of the ocean itself, rising for a moment before returning to the depths. In this sense, the waves are entirely dependent on the ocean, unable to exist without it or act independently of its natural laws. Similarly, all material creations are transient waves on the vast canvas of Krishna’s energy, arising and dissolving according to His direction, but always within the boundaries of His eternal nature.
Krishna’s involvement in creation is not motivated by desire, attachment, or necessity. He acts through His divine will and potency, remaining eternally detached and unaffected by the outcomes. The cycles of birth, maintenance, and destruction proceed flawlessly, governed by laws established by Krishna’s will, but He stands apart, never entangled by the drama unfolding within the universe. This reveals His supreme transcendence, a quality distinguishing Him from all conditioned beings who are bound by karma and nature.
This verse subtly addresses profound philosophical concerns regarding fate, free will, and divine impartiality. By clarifying that all beings act under the sway of prakriti, Krishna removes the notion that He—as the creator—favors or condemns anyone. He does not personally entangle Himself with the virtues or vices of individuals. Instead, the system He has set in motion allows each soul to reap the fruits of their own actions while He remains the unchanging background to their temporal journey.
By peering into the meaning of this verse, one gains insight into the cyclical and impermanent nature of material existence. The world and its myriad forms are not permanent realities but recurring events in the vast play of creation, orchestrated by Krishna’s will. Understanding our place within these cycles can inspire a sense of perspective, encouraging a search for the changeless, eternal principle—Krishna Himself—who stands beyond the shifting tides of existence. In this way, verse 9.8 prepares the seeker to look beyond the ever-turning wheel of creation and destruction and cultivate an aspiration for what is truly eternal.
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