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Chapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute · 30 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute
7.37.5

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.4

Material and superior spiritual energies

भूमिरापोऽनलो वायु: खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च ।

अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा ॥ ४ ॥

bhūmir āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ

khaṁ mano buddhir eva ca

ahaṅkāra itīyaṁ me

bhinnā prakṛtir aṣṭadhā

Translation

Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego – all together these eight constitute My separated material energies.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

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

Kṛṣṇa’s Eight Material Energies

  1. 1Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego are Kṛṣṇa’s eight separated material energies.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa is the original cause of the material world, and His three Viṣṇu expansions direct its activities.
  3. 3Recognize material nature as Kṛṣṇa’s energy, rather than seeing yourself as its controller and enjoyer.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 7, Knowledge of the Absolute: material and superior spiritual energies.

What it teaches

Theme summary

The modes of nature condition behavior.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Material nature

Krishna describes His separated material energies.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 7.4 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 9.10Krishna pervades and governs creationBG 13.20Prakṛti, puruṣa and conditioningBG 7.5Material and superior spiritual energiesBG 7.6Material and superior spiritual energies

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

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Ask about BG 7.4 — 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.