Bhagavad Gita BG 9.8
Chapter 9, Verse 8 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः । भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नं अवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात् ॥
prakrtim svam avashthabhya visrjami punah punah bhuta-gramam imam krtsnam avasham prakritervashat
Meaning
Controlling My own Prakriti, I send forth again and again this entire multitude of beings — helpless, under the power of Prakriti.
Understanding
The mechanics of creation from Krishna's perspective: prakrtim svam avashthabhya (controlling My own Prakriti — the divine power). Visrjami punah punah (I send forth again and again — not just once but repeatedly, each cosmic day). Bhuta-grAmam imam krtsnam (this entire multitude of beings). Avasham (helpless — beings have no choice in their arising from Prakriti). PrakriteR vashat (under the power/control of Prakriti). The note is not cruel — it's cosmic mechanics. Beings arise from Prakriti, which is Krishna's power.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| प्रकृतिम् | prakrtim | Prakriti (divine creative nature/power) |
| अवष्टभ्य | avashthabhya | controlling, holding in place, presiding over |
| विसृजामि | visrjami | I send forth, I project |
| भूतग्रामम् | bhuta-gramam | the multitude of beings, the collection of creatures |
| अवशम् | avasham | helpless, without independent will (in arising) |
| प्रकृतिम् | prakṛtim | nature, material energy |
| स्वाम् | svām | My own |
| अवष्टभ्य | avaṣṭabhya | controlling, resorting to |
| विसृजामि | visṛjāmi | I send forth |
| पुनः | punaḥ | again |
| पुनः | punaḥ | and again |
| भूत-ग्रामम् | bhūta-grāmam | the multitude of beings |
| इमम् | imam | this |
| कृत्स्नम् | kṛtsnam | entire, the whole |
| अवशम् | avaśam | helplessly |
| प्रकृतेः | prakṛteḥ | of nature |
| वशात् | vaśāt | by the power of |