Bhagavad Gita 9.8 — Resting on My Own Nature, I Send Forth the Entire Multitude of Beings Again and Again
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः ।
भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात् ॥ ९.८ ॥
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Taking charge of My own nature, I send forth again and again this entire multitude of beings, who are helpless under the force of nature.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| prakṛitim | nature, material energy |
| svām | My own |
| avaṣhṭabhya | taking charge of, resting upon |
| visṛijāmi | I send forth |
| punaḥ punaḥ | again and again |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| bhūta-grāmam | the multitude of beings |
| imam | this |
| kṛitsnam | entire |
| avaśham | helpless, without control |
| prakṛiteḥ | of nature |
| vaśhāt | due to the force of, under the control of |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| prakṛitim | nature, material energy | bhūta-grāmam | the multitude of beings |
| svām | My own | imam | this |
| avaṣhṭabhya | taking charge of, resting upon | kṛitsnam | entire |
| visṛijāmi | I send forth | avaśham | helpless, without control |
| punaḥ punaḥ | again and again | prakṛiteḥ | of nature |
| vaśhāt | due to the force of, under the control of | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Continuing the description of creation, Lord Krishna explains how He repeatedly manifests the entire host of beings by taking charge of His own prakṛti. He also reveals an important truth about the living beings themselves: they are born helpless under the sway of their nature.
Essence
Creation Through the Lord's Own Nature
This verse completes the picture begun in the previous one. The Lord does not depend on anything outside Himself to create. He uses His own energy, and He does so again and again.
Prakṛtiṁ svām avaṣṭabhya (resting upon My own prakṛti): The word avaṣṭabhya means taking hold of or supporting. The Lord governs and directs His own energy, and so the entire creation emerges from His power.
Visṛjāmi punaḥ punaḥ (I send forth again and again): Creation is not a single event. The Lord brings forth the world cycle after cycle, showing that the process of creation is without beginning in the sense that it has always been unfolding.
Bhūta-grāmam imaṁ kṛtsnam (this entire multitude of beings): The whole crowd of beings, in all their variety, comes forth from Him.
Avaśaṁ prakṛter vaśāt (helpless, by the force of prakṛti): This phrase carries a deep psychological insight. The beings who are born are avaśa, not in control. They arise under the influence of their own nature, formed by the impressions and tendencies carried from earlier actions. Most people believe that they freely direct their lives, but in reality they are moved by habits, desires and conditioning that they hardly understand.
This does not mean that the soul is eternally powerless. It means that, until one understands the Self and takes shelter in the Lord, one remains driven by the forces of nature. The path of knowledge and devotion gradually restores true freedom.
Message for Everyday Life (Becoming Free from Automatic Habits)
Notice how often you act on autopilot: Many of our choices, such as reacting in anger, scrolling endlessly or craving comfort, are driven by deeply rooted habits and not by conscious decisions.
Practical approach: Practice pausing before reacting. Ask yourself, "Am I choosing this, or is my habit choosing for me?" Regular prayer, reflection and mindful action slowly weaken the grip of old patterns and allow wiser, freer choices to arise.
Creation Through the Lord's Own Nature
This verse completes the picture begun in the previous one. The Lord does not depend on anything outside Himself to create. He uses His own energy, and He does so again and again.
Prakṛtiṁ svām avaṣṭabhya (resting upon My own prakṛti): The word avaṣṭabhya means taking hold of or supporting. The Lord governs and directs His own energy, and so the entire creation emerges from His power.
Visṛjāmi punaḥ punaḥ (I send forth again and again): Creation is not a single event. The Lord brings forth the world cycle after cycle, showing that the process of creation is without beginning in the sense that it has always been unfolding.
Bhūta-grāmam imaṁ kṛtsnam (this entire multitude of beings): The whole crowd of beings, in all their variety, comes forth from Him.
Avaśaṁ prakṛter vaśāt (helpless, by the force of prakṛti): This phrase carries a deep psychological insight. The beings who are born are avaśa, not in control. They arise under the influence of their own nature, formed by the impressions and tendencies carried from earlier actions. Most people believe that they freely direct their lives, but in reality they are moved by habits, desires and conditioning that they hardly understand.
This does not mean that the soul is eternally powerless. It means that, until one understands the Self and takes shelter in the Lord, one remains driven by the forces of nature. The path of knowledge and devotion gradually restores true freedom.
Message for Everyday Life (Becoming Free from Automatic Habits)
Notice how often you act on autopilot: Many of our choices, such as reacting in anger, scrolling endlessly or craving comfort, are driven by deeply rooted habits and not by conscious decisions.
Practical approach: Practice pausing before reacting. Ask yourself, "Am I choosing this, or is my habit choosing for me?" Regular prayer, reflection and mindful action slowly weaken the grip of old patterns and allow wiser, freer choices to arise.
Next Topic
Lord Krishna has explained that He creates repeatedly through His own prakṛti, while beings are born helpless under its influence. Yet a natural doubt arises: if the Lord is the source of such a vast and continuous creation, does He not become bound by the actions involved? In the next verse, He answers this directly.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Nature's force carries those who do not know.
The Supreme rests on nature; beings are driven by it.
See the current, then choose the shore.
What is repeated can be understood.
Knowledge turns the driven into the free.
We are less in control than we imagine.
Nature works under a higher hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'prakṛitim svām avaṣhṭabhya' (taking charge of My own nature) mean?
What does 'punaḥ punaḥ' (again and again) mean here?
What does 'avaśham' (helpless) tell us about beings?
How is the Supreme different from the beings who are 'prakṛiteḥ vaśhāt' (under the force of nature)?
What is the practical message of this verse?
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