Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 19

Chapter 8 – Akshara Brahma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते ।
रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे ॥

Transliteration

bhūtagrāmaḥ sa evāyaṃ bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate .
rātryāgame.avaśaḥ pārtha prabhavatyaharāgame ॥

Meaning

This very same multitude of beings, coming into existence again and again, dissolves helplessly at the coming of night and comes forth again at the coming of day, O Partha.

Word meanings

भूतग्रामः – the multitude of beings
सः एव अयम् – this very same
भूत्वा भूत्वा – coming into being again and again
प्रलीयते – dissolves
अवशः – helplessly
रात्र्यागमे – at the coming of night
प्रभवति – comes forth
अहरागमे – at the coming of day
पार्थ – O Partha

Anvaya (word order)

पार्थ, सः एव अयं भूतग्रामः भूत्वा भूत्वा अवशः रात्र्यागमे प्रलीयते, अहरागमे प्रभवति ।

Explanation

The previous verse gave the cycle of creation and dissolution; this verse brings out a special aspect of it: the same host of beings is repeatedly born and dissolved. Sa evayam bhutagramah means this is the same group, not a new one. Beings act in one creation, merge in dissolution, and reappear in the next with their former actions and impressions.

The most telling word here is avashah, helplessly. The soul's journey is not by its own will but dragged by the cords of karma and desire. Like a turning wheel, the soul keeps going round without choosing. Shankara says that beings bound by ignorance, desire and action thus remain in coming and going without independence.

The picture may seem bleak, but its purpose is to awaken the wish for liberation. When one sees that one is turning helplessly in a cycle, one naturally looks for the path that leads out. In the following verses the Lord will indicate that path: a higher eternal state beyond even the unmanifest.

In essence, helpless wandering in samsara is sorrow, and in the Lord's refuge there is freedom.

Context

Verse 8.18 described the order of creation and dissolution. This verse shows the helpless condition of beings in it, and 8.20 will speak of the eternal reality beyond that cycle.

Life lesson

One who goes on unknowingly under the sway of karma and desire is not truly free within. Watching one's actions and desires with awareness and turning them toward God is the beginning of leaving this helplessness.

Key terms

भूतग्राम: the host of living beings
अवश: helpless, driven by karma and desire
भूत्वा भूत्वा: repeatedly taking birth