भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते ।
रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे ॥
रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पार्थ वही यह प्राणिसमुदाय उत्पन्न होहोकर प्रकृतिके परवश हुआ ब्रह्माके दिनके समय उत्पन्न होता है और ब्रह्माकी रात्रिके समय लीन होता है ॥
English
O Arjuna, this entire group of beings is born again and again, and is dissolved at the coming of night; at the coming of day, it rises again, helplessly.
What this verse means
All living beings keep arising and dissolving again and again. They do so under the pull of nature, not by choice.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen by grief while Krishna explains the rhythm behind all created life. After describing cosmic day and night, Krishna says every being rises and falls in that cycle under nature’s compulsion.
Why this verse still matters
You build a life, a role, a relationship, then watch it shift overnight. What felt fixed was always moving through a larger rhythm you do not control.
The takeaway
You can stop mistaking repeated change for permanence.
Word-by-word translation
भूतग्रामः (group of beings) / सः (that same) / एव (indeed) / अयम् (this) / भूत्वा भूत्वा (having become again and again) / प्रलीयते (is dissolved) / रात्र्यागमे (at the coming of night) / अवशः (helplessly, under compulsion) / पार्थ (O Partha) / प्रभवति (arises) / अहरागमे (at the coming of day)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga — The Imperishable Absolute, which contains 28 verses.
Explore related themes: prakriti (31 verses), avyakta (10 verses)