Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 7

English Translation

O son Kunti, all the beings go back at the end of a cycle to My Prakrti. I project them forth again at the beginning of a cycle.

Detailed Commentary

।।9.7।। Explanation — 'All beings, O son of Kunti, at the end of a *Kalpa*, merge into My *Prakriti*.' — All beings are My *aṃśa* (part) and always abide in Me. But by identifying with *Prakriti* and the body, they perform *karmas* and become bound to their fruits, leading to the repeated cycle of birth and death (*janma-maraṇa*). When the time of *Mahapralaya* (Great Dissolution) arrives, all these beings, along with their *karmas*, merge into My *Prakriti*. 'Again I create them at the beginning of a *Kalpa*.' — When the *karmas* of those beings who merged into *Prakriti* during *Mahapralaya* become ripe and ready to yield results, then in the mind of the Lord arises the resolve of creation, 'May I be many, may I propagate' (*bahu syāṁ prajāyeya*). This is the beginning of *Mahasarga* (Great Creation). In the third verse of the eighth chapter, this is referred to as 'the emanation that causes the origination of beings, known as *karma*' (*bhūtabhāvodbhavakaro visargaḥ karmasaṁjñitaḥ*). In the fourteenth chapter, it is called 'I place the germ' (*garbhaṁ dadhāmyaham*) (14.3) and 'I am the seed-giving father' (*ahaṁ bījapradaḥ pitā*) (14.4). The purport is that at the beginning of *Mahasarga*, upon the manifestation of Brahmāji, I again establish a special connection for all *jīvas* (souls) with various *yonis* (species) according to their *karmas*. This very process is described in the thirteenth verse of the fourth chapter as 'the fourfold *varṇa* system was created by Me based on *guṇa* and *karma*' (*cāturvarṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ*). One day of Brahmāji is called a *Kalpa*, which is equal to one thousand *caturyugis* (cycles of four *yugas*). His lifespan is one hundred years. His state of dissolution is called *Kalpakṣaya* (end of a *Kalpa*), and his re-manifestation is called *Kalpādau* (beginning of a *Kalpa*). Here, 'all beings merge into *Prakriti*' (*sarvabhūtāni prakṛtiṁ yānti*) indicates that during *Mahapralaya*, *jīvas* themselves attain *Prakriti*, and 'I create them at the beginning of the *Kalpa*' (*tāni kalpādau visṛjāmi*) means I manifest them at the beginning of *Mahasarga*. *Prakriti*, being active, naturally moves towards dissolution (*laya*), and beings also merge into *Prakriti*, and *Prakriti* in turn merges into the *Paramātmā*. At the beginning of *Mahasarga*, to give them the fruit of their ripe *karmas* and for their purification, I create their bodies. I create only those beings who are subservient to *Prakriti*. Just as a house is built but gradually collapses on its own, similarly, the creation of the cosmos is by God, but its dissolution (*pralaya*) occurs spontaneously. This clarifies that in the creation of the cosmos, God's hand is involved, but *Prakriti* naturally leads its operations towards decay. Being a part (*aṃśa*) of God, the *jīva* naturally moves towards God, towards upliftment (*utthāna*). However, when it falls into desire (*kāmanā*), possessiveness (*mamatā*), and attachment (*āsakti*), and connects itself with its perishable body, it moves towards degradation (*patana*). Therefore, one should recognize the importance of discrimination (*viveka*), strive for one's upliftment as soon as possible, and by renouncing desire, possessiveness, and attachment, one should come close to God alone.