Bhagavad Gita 9.7

Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga · English Translation

All beings, O Arjuna, go into My Nature at the end of a Kalpa; I send them forth again at the beginning of (the next) Kalpa.

Sanskrit

सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम् | कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम् ||९-७||

Transliteration

sarvabhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṃ yānti māmikām . kalpakṣaye punastāni kalpādau visṛjāmyaham ||9-7||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna explains the cosmic cycle of creation and dissolution to Arjuna. He states that all living beings merge back into His divine nature at the end of a vast time period called a Kalpa. When a new age begins, Krishna releases these beings again to manifest in the universe once more. The key teaching is that while individual forms change, they never truly leave God's presence.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse is central to the Sankhya philosophy within the Gita, specifically addressing the concept of Prakriti (material nature) as the instrument of creation. It bridges Jnana Yoga by teaching that all existence originates from and dissolves back into the Divine, establishing God's role as both the efficient cause and the material substrate.

Word by Word

सर्वभूतानि all beings, कौन्तेय O Kaunteya, प्रकृतिम् to Nature, यान्ति go, मामिकाम् My, कल्पक्षये at the end of the Kalpa, पुनः again, तानि them, कल्पादौ at the beginning of the Kalpa, विसृजामि send forth, अहम् I

Classical Commentary

Prakriti The inferior one or the lower Nature composed of the three alities? Sattva? Rajas and Tamas. Just as the grass grows from the earth and dries up in the earth, just as the ripples and waves rise from the ocean and disappear in the ocean itself, just as the dreams proceed from the mind and melt away in the mind itself when the dreamer comes back to the waking state, so also the beings which arise from Nature merge into it during dissolution or Pralaya. Pralaya is the period of dissolution. MahaUtpatti is the time of creation. (Cf. VIII.18?19)

Where This Happens

This verse occurs on the battlefield of Kurukshetra within Chapter 9, known as 'Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga' (The Royal Knowledge and Secret). Lord Krishna is speaking to Arjuna after revealing that He is the ultimate source of everything. At this moment in the narrative, Arjuna has just begun to understand his own confusion and fear about fighting a war against relatives, seeking clarity on the nature of God's relationship with creation.

Living It Out Today

When you face an overwhelming work crisis or a family emergency that feels like it is ending everything you know, remember this verse: nothing truly disappears. Just as beings merge into Nature only to return later, your current struggles are part of a larger cycle where solutions and new beginnings will emerge in their own time. Instead of panicking about the 'end' of a situation, trust that resources and opportunities will manifest again when the conditions align.

Explained for Children

Imagine you are watching your favorite cartoon character go into their house at night and then come back out the next morning; they aren't gone forever, just resting inside. Krishna says something similar about all living things: when a very long time ends, everyone goes 'inside' God like sleeping in His home. When a new day of creation starts, God wakes them up again to play their part in the world. This means we are always safe with Him, even during big changes.

Daily Reflection

Imagine your own life and challenges dissolving back into the source at this very moment, not as a loss but as a safe return to rest. It is comforting to know that just as nature renews itself after every end, there is always a new beginning waiting for you when the time is right. You are never truly lost in these transitions; instead, you are being held by a power that knows exactly how and when to unfold your potential again.

A Practice for Today

Close your eyes and visualize all beings returning to the ocean of divine nature at the end of a great cycle, finding rest as waves recede into the sea. Breathe deeply, knowing that just as these waves are inevitably sent forth again by the Divine Will, you too are held securely within an eternal rhythm of surrender.

Key Teachings

The Cycle of Dissolution
Just as the sun sets to rise again, all individual beings merge back into God's primal nature at the end of a cosmic era. This verse establishes that creation is not chaotic but follows a divine rhythm where existence temporarily withdraws before re-emerging.
Divine Agency in Creation
The text clarifies that it is 'I' who sends beings forth, emphasizing that the universe operates under personal Divine Will rather than blind chance. This highlights a direct relationship where the Creator actively initiates each new cycle of life and activity.
Eternal Return
The verse teaches that no creation is ever truly destroyed permanently, as it simply returns to its source only to manifest again. This offers a profound perspective on impermanence, suggesting that every ending contains the seed of a new beginning.

Themes

Cosmic CyclesDivine NatureCreation and DissolutionDevotionThe SelfImpermanence

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 4.18 9.6 18.66

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Kalpa in the context of this verse?

A Kalpa is an immense period of time equal to one day in the life of Brahma, lasting roughly 4.32 billion human years. In this verse, it refers to the specific moment when the entire universe undergoes dissolution before entering a new cycle.

Does 'going into My Nature' mean souls cease to exist?

The verse describes the macro-cycle where all beings dissolve together at the end of an age. The micro-cycle of individual rebirth happens within these ages, but here Krishna emphasizes that every soul eventually returns to its source before being sent forth again for a new creation.

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