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Chapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute · 30 verses

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Nature & guṇasChapter 7 · Knowledge of the Absolute
7.47.6

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 7.5

Material and superior spiritual energies

अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम् ।

जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत् ॥ ५ ॥

apareyam itas tv anyāṁ

prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām

jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho

yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat

Translation

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Kṛṣṇa’s Superior Energy

  1. 1Living beings are Kṛṣṇa’s superior energy and use the resources of His inferior, material energy.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that living beings are always under Kṛṣṇa’s control and are never equal to Him in power.
  3. 3Recognize your dependence on Kṛṣṇa and surrender to His control; this surrender brings happiness and real liberation.

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.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 7.5 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

4

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 7.4Material 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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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.