Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 5

English Translation

Nor do the beings dwell in Me. Behod My divine Yoga! I am the sustainer and originator of beings, but My Self is not contained in the beings.

Detailed Commentary

।।9.5।। Explanation— 'Mayā tatamidam sarvam jagadavyaktamūrtinā'— That which is perceivable by mind, intellect, and senses is the manifest (vyakta) form of Bhagavan. That which is not known to them is the unmanifest (avyakta) form. Here, Bhagavan, by the word 'Mayā,' refers to the personal (sākāra) form, and by 'avyaktamūrtinā,' to the impersonal (nirākāra) form. This means Bhagavan exists in both sākāra and nirākāra forms. This distinction is merely for different sampradāyas; in reality, Paramātmā is one. Saguna-Nirguna, Sākāra-Nirākāra are different names for the same Paramātmā. In the second chapter of the Gītā, the true nature of the Jīva is clarified through 'Yena sarvamidaṃ tatam.' As this Jīva is a part (amsha) of Paramātmā, it is as pervasive as Paramātmā. Even when the worship of Sākāra and Nirākāra forms is described, the same is stated. For all situations, Bhagavan says— 'Mayā tatamidam sarvam.' 'Matsthāni sarvabhūtāni' means all beings are situated in Bhagavan. They originate from Me and merge into Me. 'Na chāhaṃ teṣvavasthitaḥ'— Bhagavan says that "I am not situated in them." If I were in them, My destruction would also occur upon their destruction. I am in them, yet distinct from them. My presence is eternal. 'Na cha matsthāni bhūtāni'— Bhagavan says that "these beings are not situated in Me," because they are subject to change. If they were in Me, they would be immortal like Me. The truth is that the stability of the world (samsāra) depends on Paramātmā. This samsāra originates from Me and merges into Me. Just as water cannot exist without waves, so the samsāra cannot exist without Paramātmā. Even if water exists without waves, the waves have no independent existence. The samsāra also has no independent existence. Similarly, pots are made of clay. The pots are in the clay, but they are not independent in the clay. Apart from Paramātmā, there is no permanent existence. 'Pashya me yogamaishvaram'— "I am in the entire universe, yet the universe is not in Me. Behold My wonderful yogashakti (divine power)." 'Bhūtabhṛn na cha bhūtastho mamātmā bhūtabhāvanaḥ'— "My Being creates and sustains all beings, yet is not situated in them." That is, "I am unattached to them, free from ego (ahaṅkāra) and possessiveness (mamata)." Human beings should also remain unattached (asaṅga) in their duties. In every situation, one should understand it as Bhagavan's līlā and remain joyful. Upon deeply understanding that "everything is Bhagavan," one should not experience ego and should not be affected by criticism. This experience should remain permanent in life. Relation— Now Bhagavan clarifies the previously stated points through an illustration.