अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम्। जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत्।।7.5।।
apareyamitaḥ tv anyāṁ prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām | jīvabhūtāṁ mahābāho yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat ||7.5||
Translation
Such is My inferior energy. But beyond it, O mighty‑armed Arjuna, I have a superior energy. This is the jīva‑śakti (the soul‑energy) which comprises the embodied souls who are the basis of life in this world.
Word Meanings
apará — inferior; ityam — this; itaḥ — besides this; tu — but; anyām — another; prakṛtim — energy; viddhi — just try to understand; me — My; parām — superior; jīvabhūtām — comprising the living entities; mahābāho — O mighty‑armed one; yayā — by whom; idam — this; dhāryate — is utilized or exploited; jagat — the material world.
Understanding the Verse
In this verse Lord Krishna clarifies the distinction between His two major types of energy, known as the inferior (apara) and superior (para) energies. The inferior energy (apara‑shakti) is the material nature (prakṛti) that manifests as the physical universe, the body, senses, and all external phenomena. It is the realm of change, impermanence, and ignorance, where beings are entangled in the cycles of birth and death. Krishna invites Arjuna to ‘viddhi’ – to understand and recognize this lower nature, encouraging an intellectual discernment that separates the transient from the eternal.
Beyond this material layer lies the superior energy (para‑shakti), which is the divine essence that sustains all living entities. This superior energy is the jīva‑śakti, the soul‑energy residing within every being. Unlike the material energy, the jīva‑śakti is unchanging, pure consciousness that draws its existence directly from the Supreme. It is the essential spark that animates the body and enables perception, but it remains untouched by the material fluctuations of nature.
Krishna addresses Arjuna as ‘mahābāho’ – the mighty‑armed one – a reminder of Arjuna’s warrior prowess and his capacity for great discernment. By asking Arjuna to see beyond the material veil, Krishna prepares him for the deeper philosophical teachings that will follow, especially the discussions on the nature of the self, devotion, and the path to liberation. The verse subtly indicates that while the material world (jagat) is ‘dhāryate’ – held up, supported, and sustained – by the supreme energy, the eternal soul within each being is also upheld by the same divine source.
Understanding this duality is crucial for any seeker. Recognizing the inferior energy helps one to detach from the alluring yet fleeting pleasures of the world, while awareness of the superior energy encourages a turn inward toward the immutable spirit. This turn is the foundation for the practice of yoga and bhakti, where the devotee surrenders the ego‑driven mind to the higher consciousness. By distinguishing between the two ‘shaktis’, Krishna offers a roadmap: first, to see the world as a manifestation of material nature, and second, to realize that the true self is a fragment of the Supreme, eternally connected to the divine source.
Thus, Chapter 7, Verse 5 serves as a pivotal teaching that bridges the material and spiritual realms, guiding Arjuna – and the reader – toward a comprehensive understanding of the universe’s layered reality and the path to transcendental liberation.
