← the field

Settings

How much English
Emphasis
Light

Auto follows the hour.

Text
Contrast
Motion
Sound

Kept in this browser only. Nothing is saved until you apply.

7.4 The eight lower divisions Krishna speaks

भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च
अहङ्कार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा

bhūmir-āpo ’nalo vāyuḥ khaṁ mano buddhir eva cha
ahankāra itīyaṁ me bhinnā prakṛitir aṣhṭadhā

Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, understanding and the sense of self — these are the eight divisions of my lower nature.

Explanation

The lower nature, in eight parts.

  • earth, water, fire, air, space
  • mind
  • understanding
  • the sense of self

The striking thing is what got included. Mind, intellect and ego are on the same list as earth and water — classified as material, not as spirit. Whatever you are, chapter 7 says, it is not your thinking.

Word by word

bhūmiḥ
earth
āpaḥ
water
analaḥ
fire
vāyuḥ
air
kham
space
manaḥ
mind
buddhiḥ
intellect
eva
certainly
cha
and
ahankāraḥ
ego
iti
thus
iyam
all these
me
my
bhinnā
divisions
prakṛitiḥ
material energy
aṣhṭadhā
eightfold