रसोऽहमप्सु कौन्तेय प्रभास्मि शशिसूर्ययोः। प्रणवः सर्ववेदेषु शब्दः खे पौरुषं नृषु।।7.8।।
raso ’ham apsu kaunteya prabhāsmi śaśi‑sūryayoḥ | praṇavaḥ sarve‑vedeṣu śabdaḥ khe pauruṣaṁ nṛṣu ||7.8||
Translation
I am the taste in water, O son of Kunti, and the radiance of the moon and the sun. I am the sacred syllable Om in all the Vedas, the sound in ether, and the masculine power in men.
Word Meanings
rasaḥ — taste; aham — I; apsu — in water; kaunteya — O son of Kunti; prabhāsmi — I am the radiance; śaśi‑sūryayoḥ — of the moon and the sun; praṇavaḥ — the sacred syllable Om; sarve — all; vedeṣu — the Vedas; śabdaḥ — sound, vibration; khe — in ether; pauruṣam — masculine ability, power; nṛṣu — in men, humans.
Understanding the Verse
In this verse Krishna declares His immanence in the most subtle and pervasive aspects of the material world, illustrating that the Divine pervades every layer of existence. The first declaration, "rasaḥ ahaṁ apsu," identifies the Lord as the taste (rasa) present in water. Taste is a sensory experience that requires both the medium (water) and the perceiver (the tongue). By being the rasa, the Divine becomes the essential quality that gives water its pleasantness, indicating that even the most mundane substances are suffused with divine essence.
The address "kaunteya" (O son of Kunti) personalizes the teaching for Arjuna, reminding him of his lineage while also serving as a reminder that the Divine relationship transcends social identities. "Prabhāsmi śaśi‑sūryayoḥ" expands the presence to the luminous realms of the moon and the sun. Light is a powerful symbol of knowledge and consciousness; by being the radiance of both celestial bodies, Krishna asserts His role as the source of illumination that guides both the nocturnal and the diurnal cycles, mirroring the guidance He offers to the seeker in darkness and in clarity.
The next segment, "praṇavaḥ sarve‑vedeṣu," brings the sacred syllable Om (praṇava) into focus. Om is the primal sound that underlies the Vedic chants, representing the totality of creation. By being the essence of Om in all the Vedas, the Lord is the foundational vibration that generates the cosmic rhythm, affirming that the scriptures are not merely human compositions but emanations of divine consciousness.
Continuing, "śabdaḥ khe" declares the Divine as the sound (śabda) existing in the ether (kha). In Vedic cosmology, space (kha) is the subtle medium that carries all vibrations. Sound, when placed in ether, becomes the carrier of subtle energy, linking the material world with the spiritual. Krishna’s identification with this sound illustrates that the ultimate reality is a vibratory principle, resonating through the universe and within each being.
Finally, "pauruṣaṁ nṛṣu" reveals the Divine as the masculine potency (pauruṣam) within humans. Pauruṣa represents vigor, courage, and the purposeful action that propels humans toward dharma. By residing in men, the Divine empowers individuals to act righteously, to uphold moral duties, and to manifest the spiritual potential inherent in human nature. This statement also balances the earlier feminine aspects of taste and light, underscoring that both masculine and feminine principles are integral to the divine totality.
Collectively, the verse weaves a tapestry where the Divine is simultaneously the subtle taste of water, the luminous radiance of celestial bodies, the primal syllable of sacred chants, the resonant vibration in ether, and the empowering force in humanity. This multidimensional presence encourages seekers to recognize divinity not only in lofty philosophical concepts but also in everyday sensory experiences, reinforcing the Gita’s message that the Supreme is both transcendent and immanent, pervading every element of the cosmos and the individual’s inner world.
