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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.8
प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य विसृजामि पुन: पुन: ।
भूतग्राममिमं कृत्स्नमवशं प्रकृतेर्वशात् ॥ ८ ॥
prakṛtiṁ svām avaṣṭabhya
visṛjāmi punaḥ punaḥ
bhūta-grāmam imaṁ kṛtsnam
avaśaṁ prakṛter vaśāt
The whole cosmic order is under Me. Under My will it is automatically manifested again and again, and under My will it is annihilated at the end.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
The whole universe is under the Lord’s control, repeatedly created and destroyed by His will.
Prabhupāda explains that the material world is the Lord’s inferior energy, and He enters everything—even each atom.
Creation allows living beings to follow their desires, but the Lord does not become involved in their activities.
These notes cover verses 9.7–8
Inconceivable potency” in terms of creation and destruction — Now Krishna after explaining His role in maintenance, explains His relationships with creation and destruction
Under the will of the Supreme Lord, all the material manifestations are automatically created and annihilated again and again
a) “At the end of millennium” – This indicates the time of Brahma’s death
At this time all energy is wound up in the Lord Himself
At manifestation – He expands Himself in material energy (Ref. Chandogya Upanisad:
“Bahu syam” — “I become many”) b) Refutes the modern concept of evolution –
Modern concept: There is gradual evolution of species, from one to another, beginning from creation
Our Understanding of evolution based on this purport – All species of life are created immediately along with the universe at the beginning of creation (and not one after another); based on desires and past deeds of living entities c) If Krishna as Paramesvara is aloof, then how does material world continue – This is answered as:
“Supreme will” is always present – Everything is definitely under Supreme will of the Lord
Because “He enters as three Vishnu forms into the Mahat-tattva to create”
But no direct involvement of the Lord – He does not Himself create or destroy but:
Material nature acts by His desire – Term “automatically manifested (avasam) ”. In Text 9.8 points out to Krishna’s detachment, which implies Krishna has no direct involvement but acts through material nature
“Basis of Creation” – Creation takes place to accommodate inclinations or the desires of the various living entities
Texts 9.8 & 9.9
Although the Lord creates and annihilates but all this work cannot bind Him. It implies that the Lord is not directly responsible for all good and evil done in this world.
WORLD
Krishna pervades, creates and annihilates entire cosmos through His material energy
Although He is the supreme director, yet the material world nevertheless moves independently and Krishna thus remains neutral and detached
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 9.8 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?
Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.