Word meanings
- aparā
- inferior
- iyam
- this
- itaḥ
- besides this
- tu
- but
- anyām
- another
- prakṛtim
- energy
- viddhi
- know
- me
- my
- parām
- superior
- jīva-bhūtām
- living beings
- mahā-bāho
- mighty-armed one
- yayā
- by whom
- idam
- this
- dhāryate
- the basis
- jagat
- the material world
Translations
O mighty-armed Arjuna, this is the inferior Prakriti; know it as distinct from My higher Prakriti, the very life-element, by which this world is upheld.
This is My inferior nature; however, O valiant one, know that distinct from this is My superior nature, which is the very life that sustains the universe.
O mighty-armed one, this is the inferior Prakrti. Know the other Prakrti of Mine, which is however higher than this, which has taken the form of individual souls, and by which this world is upheld.
।।7.4 -- 7.5।। पृथ्वी, जल, तेज, वायु, आकाश -- ये पञ्चमहाभूत और मन, बुद्धि तथा अहंकार -- यह आठ प्रकारके भेदोंवाली मेरी अपरा प्रकृति है। हे महाबाहो ! इस 'अपरा' प्रकृतिसे भिन्न मेरी जीवरूपा बनी हुुई मेरी 'परा' प्रकृतिको जान, जिसके द्वारा यह जगत् धारण किया जाता है।Commentary
The eightfold Nature described in the previous verse is the inferior Nature. It constitutes the Kshetra or the field or matter. It is impure. It generates evil and causes bondage. But the superior Nature is pure. It is My very Self? Kshetrajna (knower of the field or Spirit) by which life is sustained, and that which enters within the whole world and upholds it. It is the very lifeelement or the principle of Selfconsciousness, by which this universe is sustained.