अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम्।भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च।।13.17।।
avibhaktaṁ ca bhūteṣu vibhaktam iva ca sthitam | bhūtabhartṛ ca tajjñeyam grasiṣṇu prabhaviṣṇu ca ||13.17||
Translation
He is indivisible, yet He appears as if divided among all living beings. Know that the Supreme is the sustainer, the annihilator, and the creator of all beings.
Word Meanings
avibhaktam — without division; ca — also; bhūteṣu — in all living beings; vibhaktam — divided; iva — as if; ca — also; sthitam — situated; bhūtabhartṛ — the maintainer of all living entities; ca — also; tat — that; jñeyam — to be understood; grasiṣṇu — devouring; prabhaviṣṇu — developing; ca — also.
Understanding the Verse
In this verse Krishna expounds upon the paradoxical nature of the Supreme Reality (Brahman). Though the Divine is unfragmented and whole (avibhaktam), it manifests in the multiplicity of the material world, giving the appearance of division (vibhaktam iva) within each living entity (bhūteṣu). This duality is not a real division; it is an illusion created by the play of Maya, allowing the one to be perceived as many.
The term bhūtabhartṛ (the maintainer of all beings) underscores the sustaining function of the Supreme. Every creature, from the smallest insect to the greatest sage, relies on this unseen power for its continued existence. This maintenance is continuous and unconditional, reflecting the divine’s compassionate oversight of creation.
Krishna then commands the seeker to recognize (tajjñeyam) this truth. Knowledge (jñāna) of the Supreme’s role as sustainer is essential for spiritual advancement. Without this awareness, one remains entangled in the transient aspects of life, mistaking the perishable for the eternal.
The verse proceeds to describe the Supreme also as grasiṣṇu (the devourer). This attribute points to the inevitable dissolution of all forms back into the source. Birth, growth, decay, and death are all phases of the same cosmic cycle, and the Divine, as grasiṣṇu, is the ultimate absorber of all material existence.
Finally, the Supreme is called prabhaviṣṇu (the creator). From the void, the Divine emanates the manifold universe, giving rise to the diverse manifestations we witness. Creation, maintenance, and dissolution form a continuous process—often portrayed as the three gunas of existence—rightfully belonging to the same ultimate source.
Understanding this triadic function dispels the illusion of separateness and cultivates reverence for the divine order. By internalizing that the same reality that sustains us also consumes and creates us, the practitioner attains a balanced vision: one that honors life, accepts death, and embraces the creative spark within. This comprehensive insight lays the groundwork for deeper yoga practice, where devotion (bhakti), knowledge (jnana), and disciplined action (karma) converge toward liberation (moksha).
Thus, Chapter 13, Verse 17 serves as a concise yet profound description of Brahman’s all-encompassing role, urging seekers to transcend superficial differences and recognize the singular essence that pervades existence.
