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Chapter 15 · The Yoga of the Supreme Person · 20 verses

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Krishna’s natureChapter 15 · The Yoga of the Supreme Person
15.1515.17

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 15.16

The Supreme Person beyond fallible and infallible

द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च ।

क्षर: सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते ॥ १६ ॥

dvāv imau puruṣau loke

kṣaraś cākṣara eva ca

kṣaraḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni

kūṭa-stho ’kṣara ucyate

Translation

There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the infallible. In the material world every living entity is fallible, and in the spiritual world every living entity is called infallible.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Two Classes of Beings

  1. 1Living beings in the material world are fallible; those in the spiritual world are infallible.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that all living beings are eternal parts of the Supreme Lord. Oneness with Him means harmony, not loss of individuality.
  3. 3Material bodies change, but spiritual bodies do not. In the spiritual world, there is no birth, old age or death.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 15, The Yoga of the Supreme Person: the supreme person beyond fallible and infallible.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Recognize Kṛṣṇa as the source of all.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 15.16 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?

Practice

Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 15 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 15.17The Supreme Person beyond fallible and infallibleBG 15.18The Supreme Person beyond fallible and infallibleBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 15.16 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.