Chapter 7, Verse 5 (Bhagavad Gita 7.5)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम्। जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत्
Transliteration
apareyam itas tvanyāṁ prakṛitiṁ viddhi me parām jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat
Word Meanings
aparā—inferior; iyam—this; itaḥ—besides this; tu—but; anyām—another; prakṛitim—energy; viddhi—know; me—my; parām—superior; jīva-bhūtām—living beings; mahā-bāho—mighty-armed one; yayā—by whom; idam—this; dhāryate—the basis; jagat—the material world
Translation
O mighty-armed Arjuna, this is but My inferior nature; know it as distinct from My higher nature, the life-element, by which this universe is upheld.
Meaning & Commentary
In this verse, Lord Krishna draws a vital distinction between the material world we perceive and the divine consciousness that animates it. Lord Krishna explains that while the physical realm—composed of earth, water, fire, air, and mind—is part of His energy, it is merely the inferior, unconscious aspect of His creation. The 'higher nature' refers to the Jiva-shakti, the eternal soul-force of Lord Krishna that sustains all living beings and provides the spark of consciousness. By understanding this, a seeker learns to look beyond the transient forms of the world and recognize the indwelling presence of Lord Krishna in every living entity. This shift in perspective transforms our interaction with the world from one of material attachment to one of spiritual reverence.