Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 9.5

“Nor do beings exist in Me—behold My divine yoga; supporting all beings, My Self does not dwell in them.”
Key Teaching: Krishna supports all beings but does not dwell in them.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga.
Description:
Krishna teaches that beings do not exist in him in a limited sense, yet through his divine yoga, he supports all without dwelling in them. This verse, continuing 9.4, addresses Arjuna’s need for divine clarity (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he clarifies divine yoga, and Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, as he emphasizes transcendence, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s confusion (1.28–46) obscures Krishna’s transcendence, unlike Duryodhana’s material focus (1.3–11). Krishna urges Arjuna to understand divine yoga for his Kshatriya duty, aligning with Karma Yoga (2.47, 9.4). Krishna supports without attachment.

Philosophically, this verse addresses the human misconception of divine immanence, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on transcendence (9.4). Arjuna’s reluctance complicates his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance to grasp divine yoga. The theme of Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga underscores the Gita’s focus on divine supremacy.

Sanjaya’s narration frames Krishna’s teaching objectively, emphasizing its paradoxical clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s support, where Krishna sustains without dwelling. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers for performing duty with transcendent awareness, aligning with liberation.