अधिभूतं क्षरो भाव: पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम् | अधियज्ञोऽहमेवात्र देहे देहभृतां वर || 4 || |
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“The perishable nature is Adhibhuta, and the divine astral Being is Adhidaiva. I, as the supreme Lord, am Adhiyajna in the body, O best of embodied beings.”
Commentary: Lord Krishna further explains the different aspects of existence and their relation to the individual self and the Supreme Being. Let us delve into each of the states at a microcosmic (body) and macrocosmic (universal) level.
Brahman is the Ultimate Reality that is the unchanging, infinite, and transcendental essence of all that exists. It is a state of transcendental vibrationless existence and eternal bliss beyond the dualities of pleasure and pain, light and darkness, birth and death. This is characterized by the absence of any distinctions, where everything is unified and harmonious. It represents pure consciousness and awareness, devoid of any limitations or attributes.
Adhibhuta is the manifestation of God that metaphorically represents the entire infinite physical and material realms in the universe. It includes all the tangible and observable elements of the universe, including the elements, the physical bodies of living beings, and the external forces and circumstances that affect them. It is the vessel through which the individual interacts with the external world and undergoes various experiences.
Adhidaiva is the astral manifestation of God, supporting the material realm that animates all objects and forces in the physical universe. It is the conscious astral power that enlivens the human body through life currents. In other words, it is the subtle force that animates the physical body and the universe as living entities. Adhidhaiva represents the vital energy that flows through various energy channels, sustaining bodily functions and enabling sensory experiences.
Adhiyajna is the causal manifestation of God who projected ideas of astral and physical entities. Lord Krishna declares that He, as the Supreme Being, is Adhiyajna within the body and the universe. He identifies himself as the Ultimate Performer of all dream ceremonies in the universe and the Supreme Receiver of all the offerings. By stating this, Lord Krishna emphasizes that he is not only the supreme Lord of the entire creation but also the indwelling divine presence within everyone. He is the one to whom all actions and offerings should be directed, and he is the goal of spiritual practice and devotion.
Adhyātma is the Universal Soul of creation beyond which is the same Brahman, the ultimate Truth. Adhyātma also refers to the individual soul or consciousness. In this context, Adhyātma represents the pure undifferentiated consciousness that underlies everyone. It is the essence that remains constant amidst the ever-changing experiences and emotions. Adhyātma is the innermost self, beyond the physical and astral, reflecting the unmanifested essence that is common to all beings.
This verse highlights manifestations of Supreme Brahman as perishable nature of the material realm (Adhibhuta), as a divine sustainer underlying the physical universes (Adhidaiva), and as the ideational performer and experiencer of all offerings (Adhiyajna) within the body and the universe. Just as sunlight reflects in every water bubble, Lord Krishna’s closest divine reflection in a human and in every particle of creation manifests as Adhyātma (Soul).
This verse reinforces our divine connection to the Supreme Being, emphasizing the importance of offering all actions to the Lord.