FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 15.13

गामाविश्य च भूतानि धारयाम्यहमोजसा । पुष्णामि चौषधी: सर्वा: सोमो भूत्वा रसात्मक: ॥ १३ ॥
gām āviśya ca bhūtāni
[gaam aavishya cha bhootaani]
dhārayāmy aham ojasā
[dhaarayaamy aham ojasaa]
puṣṇāmi cauṣadhīḥ sarvāḥ
[pushnaami chaushadheeh sarvaah]
somo bhūtvā rasātmakaḥ
[somo bhootvaa rasaatmakah]
Word-for-word
gām — the planets āviśya — entering ca — also bhūtāni — the living entities dhārayāmi — sustain aham — I ojasā — by My energy puṣṇāmi — am nourishing ca — and auṣadhīḥ — vegetables sarvāḥ — all somaḥ — the moon bhūtvā — becoming rasa - ātmakaḥ — supplying the juice .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
gām āviśya ca bhūtāni
gām
the planets
āviśya
entering
ca
also
bhūtāni
the living entities
dhārayāmy aham ojasā
dhārayāmi
sustain
aham
I
ojasā
by My energy
puṣṇāmi cauṣadhīḥ sarvāḥ
puṣṇāmi
am nourishing
ca
and
auṣadhīḥ
vegetables
sarvāḥ
all
somo bhūtvā rasātmakaḥ
somaḥ
the moon
bhūtvā
becoming
rasa - ātmakaḥ
supplying the juice .
Important Words
  • āviśya — entering
    Ā + viś — to enter into, to pervade. Kṛṣṇa does not merely create the planets and stand off; He enters each one and is the substrate of its stability. The verb keeps the Lord immanent at the very moment it asserts His cosmic scale.
  • dhārayāmi — sustain
    From dhṛ — to hold, to bear up. The same root as dharma. The planets are held in orbit by Kṛṣṇa's holding, not by inertia. Gravitational law is the *form* of His dhāraṇā, not an alternative to it.
  • ojasā — by My energy
    Ojas — vital potency, the same word used for the body's reservoir of life-strength. Kṛṣṇa's cosmic ojas is what keeps the planets in orbit; the same ojas, scaled down, is what keeps you upright in the morning.
  • puṣṇāmi — am nourishing
    Present tense, first person, continuous. The nourishing is happening right now, without pause. Every cell drawing nutrient is, at the same moment, being drawn upon by the speaker of the verse.
  • somaḥ — the moon
    Soma — the moon, but also the cool, nourishing sap-deity of the Vedas. Paired with bhūtvā ('having become') in the verse, Kṛṣṇa does not delegate the moon to a moon-god; He becomes the moon for the work of vegetative nourishment. The moon is, for the duration of this function, a form of His.
  • rasa - ātmakaḥ — supplying the juice
    Rasa — sap, taste, essence. Ātmaka — 'self-constituted as.' The moon is constituted as the very rasa it transmits. Hence rasa-tattva: the same word names lunar sap, the taste of food, devotional emotion, and ultimately Kṛṣṇa Himself (raso vai saḥ).
I enter into each planet, and by My energy they stay in orbit. I become the moon and thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Kṛṣṇa extends His immanence to the food chain. He enters earth as gravitational ojas keeping creatures grounded, and becomes the moon whose cool, sap-laden rays grow the herbs. Even your dinner, the verse implies, traces back to Him in two forms.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
'Gām āviśya' picks up the Vedic image of the Lord upholding pṛthivī (cf. Bṛhad-āraṇyaka 3.7); 'soma rasa-ātmakaḥ' draws on the doctrine of candramā oṣadhīnām patiḥ (cf. 10.21). Together they reach across geophysics and biology to a single divine agency. Note the pivot from 'I' (gām āviśya) to 'becoming Soma' (somo bhūtvā) — the Lord both indwells and appears as natural forces.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
अहं गाम् आविश्य ओजसा भूतानि धारयामि; रस-आत्मकः सोमः भूत्वा च सर्वाः औषधीः पुष्णामि ।
ahaṃ gām āviśya ojasā bhūtāni dhārayāmi; rasa-ātmakaḥ somaḥ bhūtvā ca sarvāḥ auṣadhīḥ puṣṇāmi |
Having entered the earth, I support living beings by My energy; and becoming the moon, whose essence is sap, I nourish all plants.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
गाम् आविश्य च भूतानि धारयामि अहम् ओजसा । पुष्णामि च औषधीः सर्वाः सोमः भूत्वा रस-आत्मकः ॥
gām āviśya ca bhūtāni dhārayāmi aham ojasā | puṣṇāmi ca auṣadhīḥ sarvāḥ somaḥ bhūtvā rasa-ātmakaḥ ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
गाम् gām गो (f.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) the earth ('cow / firm one')
आविश्य āviśya आ + √विश् abs. (absolutive) having entered
भूतानि bhūtāni भूत (n.) acc.pl. (accusative plural) living beings
धारयामि dhārayāmi √धृ caus. (causative) pres. (present) 1sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) I support, sustain
अहम् aham अस्मद् pron. (pronoun) nom.sg. (nominative singular) I
ओजसा ojasā ओजस् (n.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by vital energy
पुष्णामि puṣṇāmi √पुष् pres. (present) 1sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) I nourish
औषधीः auṣadhīḥ औषधि (f.) acc.pl. (accusative plural) herbs, plants
सर्वाः sarvāḥ सर्व adj. acc.pl. (accusative plural)f. all
सोमः somaḥ सोम (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) the moon / Soma
भूत्वा bhūtvā √भू abs. (absolutive) having become
रस-आत्मकः rasa-ātmakaḥ रस (m.) + आत्मक adj. nom.sg. (nominative singular)m., bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) whose nature is sap / essence
Purport

It is understood that all the planets are floating in the air only by the energy of the Lord. The Lord enters into every atom, every planet and every living being. That is discussed in the Brahma-saṁhitā. It is said there that one plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Paramātmā, enters into the planets, the universe, the living entity, and even into the atom. So due to His entrance, everything is appropriately manifested. When the spirit soul is there, a living man can float on the water, but when the living spark is out of the body and the body is dead, the body sinks. Of course when it is decomposed it floats just like straw and other things, but as soon as the man is dead, he at once sinks in the water. Similarly, all these planets are floating in space, and this is due to the entrance of the supreme energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His energy is sustaining each planet, just like a handful of dust. If someone holds a handful of dust, there is no possibility of the dust’s falling, but if one throws it in the air it will fall down. Similarly, these planets, which are floating in the air, are actually held in the fist of the universal form of the Supreme Lord. By His strength and energy, all moving and nonmoving things stay in their place. It is said in the Vedic hymns that because of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the sun is shining and the planets are steadily moving. Were it not for Him, all the planets would scatter, like dust in air, and perish. Similarly, it is due to the Supreme Personality of Godhead that the moon nourishes all vegetables. Due to the moon’s influence, the vegetables become delicious. Without the moonshine, the vegetables can neither grow nor taste succulent. Human society is working, living comfortably and enjoying food due to the supply from the Supreme Lord. Otherwise, mankind could not survive. The word rasātmakaḥ is very significant. Everything becomes palatable by the agency of the Supreme Lord through the influence of the moon.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
13. Entering the earth by My power, I support all beings. I nourish all plants, becoming the moon, full of sweet juice.
Commentary

Entering the earth (gām) by My own śakti (ojasā), and being situated there, I maintain the moving and non-moving entities (bhūtāni). Becoming the sweet-juiced moon, I cause plants such as rice to increase and grow.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
13. Entering the earth by My power, I support all beings. I nourish all plants, becoming the moon, full of sweet juice.
Commentary

Entering the earth, which is like a lump of dust, I make it firm and support all moving and non-moving things by My śakti. The sacred text says yena dyaur ugrā pṛthivī ca dṛḍhā: by whom the heavens, and powerful earth are made firm. (Ṛk Veda 8.7.3.1) This indicates that, if not for that power, the earth would perish, dissolving like a fistful of sand. Becoming the moon, made of nectar (rasātmakaḥ somaḥ), I nourish all plants, such as rice. I make things full of various tasty flavors. For the jīvas situated on the earth and enjoying various tastes, I alone accomplish their experience of various tastes, after making the places of enjoyment such as palaces, gardens, tanks and playgrounds (from earth).

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

Not only Krsna is supplying the vegetables and make them tasty, but in the next verse He says:

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: These verses help us to know how things are taking place in this material world and thus

be established in knowledge. One who is entangled within the banyan tree can develop his Krishna

consciousness by appreciating Krishna as the maintainer of the phenomenal world

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
15.13 Ca, and; avisya, entering; gam, the earth; aham, I; dharayami, sustain; bhutani, the beings, the world; ojasa, through (My) power, the power that belongs to God and is free from passing and attachment, (and) which has penetrated the earth to support it, and owing to which the heavy earth does not fall and does not crumble. There is a similar mantra: 'By which the heaven is made mighty, and the earth firm' (Tai. Sam. 4.1.8.5), and also, 'He supported the earth' (op.cit., 4.1.8.3), etc. Hence, it has rightly been said, 'Entering the earth I sustain the moving and non-moving beings.' Moreover, pusnami, I nourish, I make healthy and full of the sweet flavour of juices; sarvah, all; osadhih, the plants-paddy, barley, etc.; bhutva, by becoming; somah, Soma; rasatmakah, which is of the nature of sap. Soma consists of all the juices; it is the source of all juices. Indeed, it nourishes all plants by infusing its own juice into everything. Besides,
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
15.13 Entering the earth I uphold all beings by My strength, namely, by My irresistible power, Likewise, becoming the Soma consisting of the juice of the nectar, I nourish all herbs.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
15.13 See Comment under 15.14
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
15.13 Permeating the earth I support all beings by (My) energy; and having become the watery moon I nourish all herbs.
Commentary

15.13 गाम the earth? आविश्य permeating? च and? भूतानि all beings? धारयामि support? अहम् I? ओजसा by (My) energy? पुष्णामि (I) nourish? च and? औषधीः the herbs? सर्वाः all? सोमः moon? भूत्वा having become रसात्मकः watery.Commentary The immanence of the Lord as the allsustaining life is described in this verse.Ojas The energy of the Lord (Isvara). The vast heaven and earth are firmly held by this energy. It permeates the earth to support the world. This energy is destitute of passion and attachment. As the vast earth is supported by the energy of the Lord? it does not fall? it is not broken down to pieces and it does not sink into the nether worlds.The Lord penetrates the earth and supports all movable and immovable objects by His energy.Rasatmakah somah The watery moon The moon is regarded as the repository of all savours or,fluids (Rasas). I? becoming the watery moon? nourish all herbs and plants such as rice? wheat? etc.? by infusing sap into them? and make them savoury. I feed the vegetable kingdom with My vital juice (Ojas) which pervades the soil and generates sweet juice or sap in herbs? plants and trees. The watery or savoury moon nourishes all herbs and plants by infusing sap or savours into them.Moreover --

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
15.13 And entering the earth I sustain the beings through (My) power; and nourish all the plants by becoming Soma [According to S. and most other translators, Soma means the moon.-Tr.] which is of the nature of sap.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
15.13 1 enter this world and animate all My creatures with My vitality; and by My cool moonbeams I nourish the plants.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 9.6 BG 10.42 BG 7.9 SB 2.5.32 SB 5.23.3 SB 10.8.37 CC Ādi 5.66 CC Madhya 20.281 CC Madhya 21.40 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.2Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 3.2
Sciences essays referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Entering each planet, by My energy, I sustain them; becoming the moon, I supply juice to all vegetables.
Practical Applications
  • Recognize Kṛṣṇa's hidden hand in agricultural and lunar cycles.
  • Honor food as His specific gift.
  • Don't take cosmic life-support systems for granted.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I take cosmic systems for granted?
  • What would gratitude practice add?
Analogy

A gardener walks the rows at midnight, unseen, watering each plant from a hidden source — and at full moon he climbs the moon itself and pours its silver sap into every grain and herb across the planet. The crops swell; the farmers credit rain and soil. The gardener, soma-rūpa, is named only in the Veda. Kṛṣṇa here lifts the veil over a kitchen-table miracle: the rasa in your rice was not produced by your farming.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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