Chapter 8, Verse 18 (Bhagavad Gita 8.18)
Chapter 8: Akṣhar Brahma Yog – Path of the Eternal God
Sanskrit Shloka
अव्यक्ताद्व्यक्तयः सर्वाः प्रभवन्त्यहरागमे। रात्र्यागमे प्रलीयन्ते तत्रैवाव्यक्तसंज्ञके
Transliteration
avyaktād vyaktayaḥ sarvāḥ prabhavantyahar-āgame rātryāgame pralīyante tatraivāvyakta-sanjñake
Word Meanings
avyaktāt—from the unmanifested; vyaktayaḥ—the manifested; sarvāḥ—all; prabhavanti—emanate; ahaḥ-āgame—at the advent of Brahma’s day; rātri-āgame—at the fall of Brahma’s night; pralīyante—they dissolve; tatra—into that; eva—certainly; avyakta-sanjñake—in that which is called the unmanifest
Translation
From the Unmanifested, all the manifested worlds proceed upon the arrival of the 'day'; upon the arrival of the 'night', they dissolve indeed into that which is known as the Unmanifested.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Bhagwan Shri Krishna explains the cyclical nature of cosmic manifestation, showing that all material existence is under His divine governance. The 'day' represents the period of creation where the universe becomes visible, while the 'night' signifies the return to the subtle, unmanifested state. Shri Krishna teaches Arjuna that the material world is transient and temporary, constantly shifting between appearance and dissolution. By understanding this eternal rhythm, the seeker is encouraged to look beyond the ephemeral nature of worldly things and surrender unto Him. True liberation is found not in the cycle of time, but in reaching the supreme, eternal abode of Shri Krishna, which remains beyond the reach of day and night.