Chapter 18, Verse 61 (Bhagavad Gita 18.61)
Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yog – Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Sanskrit Shloka
ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति।भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि यन्त्रारूढानि मायया
Transliteration
īśhvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛid-deśhe ‘rjuna tiṣhṭhati bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni yantrārūḍhāni māyayā
Word Meanings
īśhvaraḥ—the Supreme Lord; sarva-bhūtānām—in all living being; hṛit-deśhe—in the hearts; arjuna—Arjun; tiṣhṭhati—dwells; bhrāmayan—causing to wander; sarva-bhūtāni—all living beings; yantra ārūḍhani—seated on a machine; māyayā—made of the material energy
Translation
The Supreme Lord Krishna dwells within the hearts of all living beings, O Arjuna, and by His divine illusory power (Maya), He causes all beings to revolve as if mounted on a mechanical device.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Shri Krishna unveils the hidden mechanics of the cosmos, reminding us that we are not the independent controllers of our actions. By residing within the core of every heart, Lord Krishna remains the ultimate witness and the internal director of the soul’s journey through the cycle of birth and death. Our limited ego often mistakes itself for the doer, but Shri Krishna clarifies that we are being moved by the force of His Maya, like puppets upon a cosmic machine. To attain liberation, the seeker must surrender this false sense of agency and seek refuge in Shri Krishna’s lotus feet. Through this surrender, one transcends the mechanical revolutions of existence and finds eternal peace in the Supreme Being.