Bhagavad Gita 9.7 — At the End of a Cycle All Beings Merge into Nature, and I Send Them Forth Again
सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम् ।
कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम् ॥ ९.७ ॥
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O son of Kunti, at the end of a cosmic cycle all beings merge into My own material nature, and at the beginning of the next cycle I send them forth again.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| sarva-bhūtāni | all beings |
| kaunteya | O son of Kunti |
| prakṛitim | nature, material energy |
| yānti | enter, merge into |
| māmikām | My own |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| kalpa-kṣhaye | at the end of a cosmic cycle |
| punaḥ | again |
| tāni | them |
| kalpa-ādau | at the beginning of a cosmic cycle |
| visṛijāmi | I send forth, I manifest |
| aham | I |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| sarva-bhūtāni | all beings | kalpa-kṣhaye | at the end of a cosmic cycle |
| kaunteya | O son of Kunti | punaḥ | again |
| prakṛitim | nature, material energy | tāni | them |
| yānti | enter, merge into | kalpa-ādau | at the beginning of a cosmic cycle |
| māmikām | My own | visṛijāmi | I send forth, I manifest |
| aham | I | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Lord Krishna now turns from the Lord's relationship with creation in the present to its cyclical nature across time. In this verse, He explains that at the end of each cosmic cycle all beings merge into His prakṛti, and at the beginning of the next they are brought forth again by Him.
Essence
The Great Cycle of Dissolution and Creation
The universe is not a one-time event but a rhythm. Just as day gives way to night and night to day, creation and dissolution follow one another. Lord Krishna reveals that behind this great rhythm stands the Supreme Lord Himself.
Sarva-bhūtāni kaunteya (all beings, O son of Kuntī): The teaching covers every living being, from the smallest creature to the highest. None is outside this great cycle.
Prakṛtiṁ yānti māmikām (they enter My prakṛti): Prakṛti is the Lord's material energy, the source of the elements, the body and the mind. At the end of a cosmic cycle, beings do not vanish into nothingness. They return into this primal energy in a subtle, unmanifest state, just as seeds rest in the earth during a long season.
Kalpa-kṣaye (at the end of a kalpa): A kalpa is a vast period of cosmic time. When it ends, the manifest world is withdrawn into its unmanifest source.
Punas tāni kalpādau visṛjāmy aham (again at the beginning of a kalpa, I send them forth): With the next cycle, the Lord releases creation once more. The word visṛjāmi shows that creation is an act of the Lord's will. Beings emerge again with the impressions of their earlier actions, so continuity is preserved and no being's journey is wasted.
This verse shows that everything in the world is temporary in its outer form, yet nothing is truly lost. The Lord is the one stable reality through all these changes.
Message for Everyday Life (Accepting Change and Endings)
Do not be shaken by endings: Every phase of life has a beginning and an end: a job, a relationship, a stage of youth. When an ending arrives we often feel that everything is lost.
Practical approach: Remember that endings are part of a larger cycle in which new beginnings arise. When a chapter closes, thank it for what it gave, release it gracefully, and trust that a new opportunity will emerge. Cultivating this acceptance reduces fear and helps us live with greater freedom.
The Great Cycle of Dissolution and Creation
The universe is not a one-time event but a rhythm. Just as day gives way to night and night to day, creation and dissolution follow one another. Lord Krishna reveals that behind this great rhythm stands the Supreme Lord Himself.
Sarva-bhūtāni kaunteya (all beings, O son of Kuntī): The teaching covers every living being, from the smallest creature to the highest. None is outside this great cycle.
Prakṛtiṁ yānti māmikām (they enter My prakṛti): Prakṛti is the Lord's material energy, the source of the elements, the body and the mind. At the end of a cosmic cycle, beings do not vanish into nothingness. They return into this primal energy in a subtle, unmanifest state, just as seeds rest in the earth during a long season.
Kalpa-kṣaye (at the end of a kalpa): A kalpa is a vast period of cosmic time. When it ends, the manifest world is withdrawn into its unmanifest source.
Punas tāni kalpādau visṛjāmy aham (again at the beginning of a kalpa, I send them forth): With the next cycle, the Lord releases creation once more. The word visṛjāmi shows that creation is an act of the Lord's will. Beings emerge again with the impressions of their earlier actions, so continuity is preserved and no being's journey is wasted.
This verse shows that everything in the world is temporary in its outer form, yet nothing is truly lost. The Lord is the one stable reality through all these changes.
Message for Everyday Life (Accepting Change and Endings)
Do not be shaken by endings: Every phase of life has a beginning and an end: a job, a relationship, a stage of youth. When an ending arrives we often feel that everything is lost.
Practical approach: Remember that endings are part of a larger cycle in which new beginnings arise. When a chapter closes, thank it for what it gave, release it gracefully, and trust that a new opportunity will emerge. Cultivating this acceptance reduces fear and helps us live with greater freedom.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has described how all beings return to His prakṛti at the end of a cycle and are sent forth again at the beginning of the next. Next, He explains more clearly how this creation takes place and why the beings who are born are not free in the way they might imagine.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Every ending hides a beginning.
The world breathes in and breathes out.
What returns to nature is sent forth again.
Change is the rhythm of creation.
Even dissolution is part of a larger order.
Accept the cycle and loosen the grip.
No ending is final within a cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'kalpa-kṣhaye' (at the end of a cosmic cycle) mean?
What does 'prakṛitim māmikām' (My own nature) mean?
What does 'visṛijāmi' (I send forth) mean?
Does this verse say beings are destroyed at the end of a cycle?
What is the practical message of this verse?
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