Bhagavad Gita 14.4 — The Lord as the Seed-Giving Father of All Beings
सर्वयोनिषु कौन्तेय मूर्तयः सम्भवन्ति याः ।
तासां ब्रह्म महद्योनिरहं बीजप्रदः पिता ॥ १४.४ ॥
🔊 Listen to meaning of this shloka
Current voice: —
Ready
Text-to-speech is not supported by this browser.
O son of Kunti, whatever forms come into being in all species of life, the great material nature is their womb, and I am the seed-giving Father.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| sarva-yoniṣhu | in all species of life, in all wombs |
| kaunteya | O son of Kunti (Arjuna) |
| mūrtayaḥ | forms, bodies |
| sambhavanti | come into being, are born |
| yāḥ | which |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| tāsām | of all of them |
| brahma | the total material nature, the great primordial substance |
| mahat | great, vast |
| yoniḥ | womb, source of birth |
| aham | I |
| bīja-pradaḥ | the giver of the seed |
| pitā | father |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| sarva-yoniṣhu | in all species of life, in all wombs | tāsām | of all of them |
| kaunteya | O son of Kunti (Arjuna) | brahma | the total material nature, the great primordial substance |
| mūrtayaḥ | forms, bodies | mahat | great, vast |
| sambhavanti | come into being, are born | yoniḥ | womb, source of birth |
| yāḥ | which | aham | I |
| bīja-pradaḥ | the giver of the seed | ||
| pitā | father | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Lord Krishna now widens the vision of creation to include every living form, whatever its species or condition. Whatever bodies arise from any womb, great nature is their mother and he himself is the seed-giving father. This verse completes the picture begun in the previous one and affirms the unity beneath the endless variety of life.
Essence
One Father, Countless Forms
Sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya (in all wombs, O son of Kuntī): The word yoni means womb or source of birth. Living beings are born in countless species: humans, animals, birds, and all other forms. Each seems utterly different, with its own body, instincts, and experiences. Lord Krishna draws Arjuna's attention beyond these differences to what they share.
Mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ (whatever forms come into being): The word mūrti refers to a particular embodied form. Forms are many, but they are all temporary shapes taken by life. A wave rising from the ocean has its own shape and name, yet it is nothing but water. In the same way, each living body is a form shaped out of one underlying reality.
Tāsāṁ brahma mahad yonir (for them the great Brahman is the womb): Nature, the great womb, is the common mother of all these forms. It supplies the physical and subtle elements, which include the body, the senses, the mind, and the intellect. Whatever we call "ours" in terms of body and personality comes from this source and will return to it.
Aham bīja-pradaḥ pitā (I am the father who gives the seed): Lord Krishna speaks here as the divine father. This is a beautiful balance. He is not only a distant creator but the one who gives life itself, and the relationship between him and every living being is that of a father to his children. Every being, however humble, carries something of the Divine within.
Together, verses three and four present a complete picture: prakṛti is the mother, the Supreme is the father, and the many forms are their offspring. This helps us understand the verses that follow. If the soul comes from the Divine, why does it appear so bound? The answer lies in the three guṇas, the qualities of nature, which he is about to explain.
Message for Everyday Life (Reverence for All Life)
Variety does not mean division: We often judge beings by their outward form, such as appearance, status, or species. Lord Krishna invites us to look deeper and recognise the same life animating all of them.
Practical approach: Practise kindness not only toward those who are like you but also toward those who seem different, including animals and the natural world. When we remember that one divine source gives life to all, compassion becomes natural rather than forced.
One Father, Countless Forms
Sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya (in all wombs, O son of Kuntī): The word yoni means womb or source of birth. Living beings are born in countless species: humans, animals, birds, and all other forms. Each seems utterly different, with its own body, instincts, and experiences. Lord Krishna draws Arjuna's attention beyond these differences to what they share.
Mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ (whatever forms come into being): The word mūrti refers to a particular embodied form. Forms are many, but they are all temporary shapes taken by life. A wave rising from the ocean has its own shape and name, yet it is nothing but water. In the same way, each living body is a form shaped out of one underlying reality.
Tāsāṁ brahma mahad yonir (for them the great Brahman is the womb): Nature, the great womb, is the common mother of all these forms. It supplies the physical and subtle elements, which include the body, the senses, the mind, and the intellect. Whatever we call "ours" in terms of body and personality comes from this source and will return to it.
Aham bīja-pradaḥ pitā (I am the father who gives the seed): Lord Krishna speaks here as the divine father. This is a beautiful balance. He is not only a distant creator but the one who gives life itself, and the relationship between him and every living being is that of a father to his children. Every being, however humble, carries something of the Divine within.
Together, verses three and four present a complete picture: prakṛti is the mother, the Supreme is the father, and the many forms are their offspring. This helps us understand the verses that follow. If the soul comes from the Divine, why does it appear so bound? The answer lies in the three guṇas, the qualities of nature, which he is about to explain.
Message for Everyday Life (Reverence for All Life)
Variety does not mean division: We often judge beings by their outward form, such as appearance, status, or species. Lord Krishna invites us to look deeper and recognise the same life animating all of them.
Practical approach: Practise kindness not only toward those who are like you but also toward those who seem different, including animals and the natural world. When we remember that one divine source gives life to all, compassion becomes natural rather than forced.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has established that all forms arise from nature as mother and the Supreme as father. The soul, though divine in origin, becomes entangled once it enters the body. In the next verse, he introduces the three guṇas of prakṛti and explains how they bind the imperishable soul to the body.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Every living thing is a relative in the great family of life.
Know where you come from and you will know how to live.
A world seen as a family is a world treated with care.
Many shapes, one source.
Life is a gift we receive, never a possession we create.
Protecting nature is honoring the mother of all forms.
No being is a stranger to the One who gave it life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Krishna mention 'sarva-yoniṣhu' (in all species of life) in this verse?
What does 'mahad brahma' (the great Brahman) refer to here?
What is meant by 'bīja-pradaḥ pitā' (the seed-giving Father)?
Does this verse make the Lord responsible for the differences between beings?
What is the practical lesson of this verse?
Explore related topics
More shlokas on the themes this verse touches: