Chapter 7, Verse 4 (Bhagavad Gita 7.4)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च। अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा
Transliteration
bhūmir-āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva cha ahankāra itīyaṁ me bhinnā prakṛitir aṣhṭadhā
Word Meanings
bhūmiḥ—earth; āpaḥ—water; analaḥ—fire; vāyuḥ—air; kham—space; manaḥ—mind; buddhiḥ—intellect; eva—certainly; cha—and; ahankāraḥ—ego; iti—thus; iyam—all these; me—my; bhinnā—divisions; prakṛitiḥ—material energy; aṣhṭadhā—eightfold
Translation
Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect, and egoism—thus is My Nature divided eightfold.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Lord Krishna explains that the entire material manifestation is a complex tapestry woven from His own lower nature. By categorizing the five elements along with the mind, intellect, and ego, Shri Krishna reveals that even our internal psychological processes are part of His divine energy. Recognizing this helps the seeker transcend the illusion of separation, understanding that the world is not merely matter but a reflection of Krishna's presence. Through this wisdom, one learns to balance the inner and outer life, realizing that every facet of existence is divine. This perspective shifts our daily struggles into a form of worship, as we see Lord Krishna in all that we perceive.