FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 7.5

अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम् । जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत् ॥ ५ ॥
apareyam itas tv anyāṁ
[apareyam itas tv anyaam]
prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām
[prakritim viddhi me paraam]
jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho
[jeeva-bhootaam mahaa-baaho]
yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat
[yayedam dhaaryate jagat]
Word-for-word
aparā — inferior iyam — this itaḥ — besides this tu — but anyām — another prakṛtim — energy viddhi — just try to understand me — My parām — superior jīva - bhūtām — comprising the living entities mahā - bāho — O mighty-armed one yayā — by whom idam — this dhāryate — is utilized or exploited jagat — the material world .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
apareyam itas tv anyāṁ
aparā
inferior
iyam
this
itaḥ
besides this
tu
but
anyām
another
prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām
prakṛtim
energy
viddhi
just try to understand
me
My
parām
superior
jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho
jīva - bhūtām
comprising the living entities
mahā - bāho
O mighty-armed one
yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat
yayā
by whom
idam
this
dhāryate
is utilized or exploited
jagat
the material world .
Important Words
  • parām — superior
    Feminine accusative of para — 'higher, beyond.' The whole verse turns on this single contrast with aparā in the previous verse. Same word-family, opposite polarity.
  • jīva - bhūtām — comprising the living entities
    Compound: jīva (the individual soul) + bhūtām (become, manifest as). The superior energy is not abstract — it is constituted of jīvas. We are, collectively, His parā prakṛti.
  • dhāryate — is utilized or exploited
    From √dhṛ (to hold, sustain) in passive voice. Carries a double sense: the living entities both sustain and exploit the material world. Prabhupāda chooses 'exploit' to mark the perverse use — the higher subjugating itself to the lower.
  • aparā — inferior
    The companion word to parā. Same etymological root (para) with the privative a- prefix. Holds the chapter's basic dualism: two energies, one inferior, one superior — both His.
Besides these, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature.
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)
Above the eightfold material substrate, Kṛṣṇa names a higher energy — parā prakṛti, the totality of conscious living entities. They are the ones who actually 'bear up' the inert material world by inhabiting and animating it. Both prakṛtis are His; the jīva is not autonomous, but is a higher-tier energy.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
The aparā / parā distinction is the chapter's metaphysical pivot. Living beings are not material aggregates but a distinct 'higher' śakti — the ground for the Gaudīya and Viśiṣṭādvaita reading of the jīva as Brahman's eternal śakti, not Brahman itself (bhedābheda). 'Yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat' anticipates the Vaiṣṇava theology of the soul as enjoyer-of-matter — and BG 15.7 will reidentify jīvas as 'mamaivāṁśaḥ'.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
हे महा-बाहो! इयम् अपरा (प्रकृतिः), इतः तु अन्यां मे पराम् जीव-भूतां प्रकृतिं विद्धि, यया इदं जगत् धार्यते ।
he mahā-bāho! iyam aparā (prakṛtiḥ), itaḥ tu anyāṃ me parām jīva-bhūtāṃ prakṛtiṃ viddhi, yayā idaṃ jagat dhāryate |
O mighty-armed one, this is the lower (energy); but know another, higher energy of Mine beyond it — consisting of living beings — by which this world is sustained.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
अपरा इयम् इतः तु अन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम् । जीव-भूतां महा-बाहो यया इदं धार्यते जगत् ॥
aparā iyam itaḥ tu anyāṃ prakṛtiṃ viddhi me parām | jīva-bhūtāṃ mahā-bāho yayā idaṃ dhāryate jagat ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
अपरा aparā अपरा (adj.) nom.sg. (nominative singular)f. lower / inferior
इयम् iyam इदम् pron. (pronoun) nom.sg. (nominative singular)f. this
इतः itaḥ ind. (abl. adv.) from this / besides this
तु tu ind. (contrast.) but
अन्याम् anyām अन्य (adj.) acc.sg. (accusative singular)f. another
प्रकृतिम् prakṛtim प्रकृति (f.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) nature / energy
विद्धि viddhi √विद् impv. 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) know!
मे me अस्मद् pron. (pronoun) gen.sg. (genitive singular) My
पराम् parām परा (adj.) acc.sg. (accusative singular)f. higher / superior
जीव-भूताम् jīva-bhūtām जीव (m.) + भूत p.p.p. (past passive participle) acc.sg. (accusative singular)f., karmadhāraya cpd. (compound) consisting of jīvas
महा-बाहो mahā-bāho महत् + बाहु (m.) voc.sg. (vocative singular), bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) O mighty-armed one
यया yayā यद् pron. (pronoun) ins.sg. (instrumental singular)f. by which
इदम् idam इदम् pron. (pronoun) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. this
धार्यते dhāryate √धृ caus. (causative) pass. (passive) pres. (present) 3sg. is sustained / upheld
जगत् jagat जगत् (n.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) world / cosmos
Purport

Here it is clearly mentioned that living entities belong to the superior nature (or energy) of the Supreme Lord. The inferior energy is matter manifested in different elements, namely earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego. Both forms of material nature, namely gross (earth, etc.) and subtle (mind, etc.), are products of the inferior energy. The living entities, who are exploiting these inferior energies for different purposes, are the superior energy of the Supreme Lord, and it is due to this energy that the entire material world functions. The cosmic manifestation has no power to act unless it is moved by the superior energy, the living entity. Energies are always controlled by the energetic, and therefore the living entities are always controlled by the Lord – they have no independent existence. They are never equally powerful, as unintelligent men think. The distinction between the living entities and the Lord is described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.30) as follows: aparimitā dhruvās tanu-bhṛto yadi sarva-gatās tarhi na śāsyateti niyamo dhruva netarathā ajani ca yan-mayaṁ tad avimucya niyantṛ bhavet samam anujānatāṁ yad amataṁ mata-duṣṭatayā “O Supreme Eternal! If the embodied living entities were eternal and all-pervading like You, then they would not be under Your control. But if the living entities are accepted as minute energies of Your Lordship, then they are at once subject to Your supreme control. Therefore real liberation entails surrender by the living entities to Your control, and that surrender will make them happy. In that constitutional position only can they be controllers. Therefore, men with limited knowledge who advocate the monistic theory that God and the living entities are equal in all respects are actually guided by a faulty and polluted opinion.” The Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, is the only controller, and all living entities are controlled by Him. These living entities are His superior energy because the quality of their existence is one and the same with the Supreme, but they are never equal to the Lord in quantity of power. While exploiting the gross and subtle inferior energy (matter), the superior energy (the living entity) forgets his real spiritual mind and intelligence. This forgetfulness is due to the influence of matter upon the living entity. But when the living entity becomes free from the influence of the illusory material energy, he attains the stage called mukti, or liberation. The false ego, under the influence of material illusion, thinks, “I am matter, and material acquisitions are mine.” His actual position is realized when he is liberated from all material ideas, including the conception of his becoming one in all respects with God. Therefore one may conclude that the Gītā confirms the living entity to be only one of the multi-energies of Kṛṣṇa; and when this energy is freed from material contamination, it becomes fully Kṛṣṇa conscious, or liberated.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
5. This is My inferior energy. Understand My superior energy which is different from this inferior energy. It is the jīvas, by whom the inferior energy is employed for their enjoyment.
Commentary

This prakṛti is called the external energy. As it is not conscious, it is inferior (aparā). Know also the other energy, tataṣṭha-śakti, which gives rise to the jīvas, which is superior (parām), because it is conscious. Why is the jīva considered superior? The unconscious matter (idam jagat) is employed (dhāryate) by this conscious jīva, for jīva’s own enjoyment.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
5. This is My inferior energy. But understand My superior energy which is different from this inferior energy. It is the jīvas, who employ the inferior energy for their enjoyment.
Commentary

This prakṛti is considered inferior since it is unconscious and the object of enjoyment. Know that the jīva is My prakṛti as well, but superior, since it is conscious and the enjoyer of inferior prakṛti, O Mighty-armed one, Arjuna. He then explains the reason for its superiority. This conscious prakṛti accepts this universe for his enjoyment, with such activities as sleeping and eating (yayā idam jagat dhāryate). The śrutis also explains that these two energies belong to the Lord alone: pradhāna-kṣetrajña-patir guṇeśaḥ The Lord is the master of the knower of the field (jīva) and matter. He is the master of the guṇas. Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.16

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

“Living entity” discussed as the superior energy

Focus of Learning

(a) The Living entity belongs to the superior nature/energy of the Lord – Because

They are exploiting the resources of material inferior nature for different purposes
Quality of their existence is one and the same with the Supreme Lord but not in the quantity of power (Ref. Chapter 2 explains that the living entity is spiritual)

(b) Material nature is the inferior energy – It is manifested as 5 gross and 3 subtle elements

(a) Description of material energy

It is the ‘separated’ energy – It is the inferior energy
Principally consists of eight elements (memorise them) – Gross (5), Subtle (3)
These eight elements expand into 24 elements ▪

5 gross, 3 subtle, 5 sense objects, 10 senses and the unmanifested modes

It is the energy of the Lord in His different purusa incarnations (Ref. Satvata tantra)

(b) Knowledge of 3 Vishnus – Anyone who knows these 3 Vishnus can be liberated from material

entanglement

‘Maha-Vishnu’– Creates mahat-tattva to begin material manifestation
‘Garbhodakasayi Vishnu’ – Enters into each universe to make diversities within it
‘Kshirodakasayi Vishnu’ – Enters into each atom of the universe as Supersoul

(c) Preaching Application: Recognize the factual enjoyer – material nature, being the energy of the

Lord in His different Purusa incarnations, is meant for the enjoyment of the Supreme Energetic

and not the living entity

Result of ignorance of science of God – One assumes this world for his own enjoyment

(d) Different levels of understandings of material energy

Material science – It comprises only 10 items (5 gross elements and 5 sense objects) and nothing more
Philosophers – They deal with the mental activities
They are also not perfect in knowledge – because they do not know the ultimate source, Krishna
Atheistic Sankhya Philosophy
What do they discuss – 8 energies expanded into 24 elements of the material world; The subject matter for discussion is only the manifestation of the external energy of Krishna, without considering the connection with Krishna
What knowledge do they lack – Krishna as the cause of all causes

(e) Basic Principle of Material Existence – ‘False ego’

It includes ten sense organs for material activities

(f) Intelligence – Refers to the total material creation, called maha-tattva

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
7.5 O mighty-armed one, iyam, this; is apara, the inferior (Prakrti)-not the higher, (but)-the impure, the source of evil and having the nature of worldly bondage. Viddhi, know; anyam, the other, pure; prakrtim, Prakrti; me, of Mine, which is essentially Myself; which, tu, however;is param, higher, more exalted; itah, than this (Prakrti) already spoken of; Jiva-bhutam, which has taken the form of the individual souls, which is characterized as 'the Knower of the body (field)', and which is the cause of sustenance of life; and yaya, by which Prakriti; idam, this; jagat, world; dharyate, is upheld, by permeating it.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
7.5 This is My lower Prakrti. But know My higher Prakrti which is different from this, i.e., whose nature is different from this inanimate Prakrti constituting the objects of enjoyment to animate beings. It is 'higher', i.e., is more pre-eminent compared to the lower Prakrti which is constituted only of inanimate substances. This higher Nature of Mine is the individual self. Know this as My higher Prakrti through which the whole inanimate universe is sustained.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
7.4-5 Bhumih etc. Apard etc. [The demonstrative] 'this' denotes what is being perceived [as objects] through sense-organs by all men at the stage of mundane life. This is only one and at the same time is divided eigth-fold. Therefore the universe is one and unitary, because it is made of one single material cause. By this statement, monism is demonstrated even while following the Prakrti theory. The selfsame Prakrti has become the living one i.e., the personal Soul. Hence it is superior [to what has become eight-fold]. It also belongs to Me alone and not to anybody else. This Prakrti is [thus] two-fold and varied in the form of the universe consisting of the knowables and the knower. That is why this Prakrti (the basic material nature), being the substratum of all beings reflected on the surface of the clean mirror, viz., the Self , is nothing but Self's own nature and [hence] never leaves Him. This world : the Earth etc. [mentioned in the 4th verse].
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
7.5 This is the inferior Prakriti, O mighty-armed (Arjuna); know thou as different from it My higher Prakriti (Nature), the very life-element, by which this world is upheld.
Commentary

7.5 अपरा lower? इयम् this? इतः from this? तु but? अन्याम् different? प्रकृतिम् nature? विद्धि know? मे My? पराम् higher? जीवभूताम् the very lifeelement? महाबाहो O mightyarmed? यया by which? इदम् this? धार्यते is upheld? जगत् world.Commentary The eightfold Nature described in the previous verse is the inferior Nature. It constitutes the Kshetra or the field or matter. It is impure. It generates evil and causes bondage. But the superior Nature is pure. It is My very Self? Kshetrajna (knower of the field or Spirit) by which life is sustained? and that which enters within the whole world and upholds it. It is the very lifeelement or the principle of Selfconsciousness? by which this universe is sustained.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
7.5 O mighty-armed one, this is the inferior (Prakrti). Know the other Prakrti of Mine which, however, is higher than this, which has taken the from of individual souls, and by which this world is uphelp.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
7.5 This is My inferior Nature; but distinct from this, O Valiant One, know thou that my Superior Nature is the very Life which sustains the universe.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 15.7 BG 13.20 BG 9.7 SB 7.7.19 SB 11.7.48 SB 3.26.3 CC Madhya 20.108 CC Madhya 6.162 CC Madhya 20.117 Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 4.5Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.1.1
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Besides this lower nature, there is My superior energy — the living entities — who exploit this material world.
Practical Applications
  • Recognize yourself as the superior energy, not the lower.
  • Stop identifying with what is lower.
  • Live as energy of Kṛṣṇa, by Kṛṣṇa, for Kṛṣṇa.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I identifying with the lower nature?
  • What would identifying as superior energy require?
Analogy

Coal and diamond — chemically the same element, structurally worlds apart. Material energy is the coal of the Lord; living entities are the diamond. Same source, but the diamond carries light through itself while coal must be burned to release it. The tragedy is the diamond pretending to be coal — the superior energy 'exploiting' the inferior, mistaking itself for what it animates.

Stories
Bharata and the deer

Jaḍa Bharata, in a previous life as the emperor-turned-sage, fixed his affection on an orphaned fawn. The attachment cost him his concentration; at death he thought of the deer and was reborn as one.

The Bhāgavatam tells this as the textbook case of the superior energy (the soul) identifying with the inferior (the body it was attached to). Bharata was the jīva-bhūta, but he let himself be defined by what he was exploiting — and prakṛti returned him to it. He had to take one more birth, this time mute and 'idiotic' by design, to never make the mistake again.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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