Chapter 9, Verse 8 (Bhagavad Gita 9.8)
Chapter 9: Rāja Vidyā Yog – Yoga through the King of Sciences
Sanskrit Shloka
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुनः पुनः। भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात्
Transliteration
prakṛitiṁ svām avaṣhṭabhya visṛijāmi punaḥ punaḥ bhūta-grāmam imaṁ kṛitsnam avaśhaṁ prakṛiter vaśhāt
Word Meanings
prakṛitim—the material energy; svām—my own; avaṣhṭabhya—presiding over; visṛijāmi—generate; punaḥ punaḥ—again and again; bhūta-grāmam—myriad forms; imam—these; kṛitsnam—all; avaśham—beyond their control; prakṛiteḥ—nature; vaśhāt—force
Translation
Presiding over My own material nature, I manifest again and again this entire multitude of beings, who are helpless, being subject to the laws of Nature.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Lord Krishna reveals His sovereignty as the Supreme Controller of the cosmic manifestation. He explains that while the jivas (souls) are bound by the karmic influence of material nature (Prakriti), He remains the transcendental source who cyclically initiates creation. Bhagwan Shri Krishna invites the seeker to recognize that true liberation is not found in the entanglements of these repetitive cycles, but in surrendering unto Him. By realizing that Krishna is the cause of all causes, the devotee transcends the 'helplessness' of material existence. Ultimately, this teaching calls us to shift our dependence from the modes of Nature to the grace of Yogeshwar Krishna, the only path to eternal freedom.