Bhagavad Gita · Akshara Brahma Yoga — The Imperishable Absolute

Chapter 8, Verse 4

"Bhagavad Gita 8.4" — meaning and explanation.

Meaning

8.4 Adhibhuta (knowledge of the elements) pertains to My perishable Nature and the Purusha or the Soul is the Adhidaiva; I alone am the Adhiyajna here in this body, O best among the embodied (men).

।।8.4।। हे देहधारियों में श्रेष्ठ अर्जुन ! नश्वर वस्तु (पंचमहाभूत) अधिभूत और पुरुष अधिदैव है; इस शरीर में मैं ही अधियज्ञ हूँ।।

Explanation

8.4 अधिभूतम् Adhibhuta? क्षरः perishable? भावः nature? पुरुषः the soul? च and? अधिदैवतम् Adhidaivata? अधियज्ञः Adhiyajna? अहम् I? एव alone? अत्र here? देहे in the body? देहभृताम् of the embodied? वर O best.Commentary Adhibhuta the perishable nature the changing universe of the five elements with all its objects all the material objects everything that has birth the changing world of names and forms.Adhidaiva Purusha literally means that by which everything is filled (pur to fill). It may also mean that which lies in this body. It is Hiranyagarbha or the universal soul or the sustainer from whom all living beings derive their sensepower. It is the witnessing consciousness.Adhiyajna Consciousness the presiding deity of sacrifice. The Lord of all works and sacrifice isVishnu. Lord Vishnu identifies Himself with all sacrificial acts. Yajna is verily Vishnu? says the Taittiriya Samhita of the Veda. Lord Krishna says? I am the presiding deity in all acts of sacrifice in the body. All sacrifices are done by the body and so it may be said that they rest in the body.

Life Lesson

Study Bhagavad Gita 8.4 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

Context

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, verse 4, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.

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