Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 9.7

“At the end of a cycle, all beings return to My nature, O Arjuna; at the cycle’s dawn, I send them forth.”
Key Teaching: Krishna absorbs and projects beings at cosmic cycles’ end and start.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga.
Description:
Krishna teaches that at the end of a cosmic cycle, all beings return to his nature, and at the dawn, he sends them forth. This verse, continuing 9.6, addresses Arjuna’s need for cosmic understanding (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he clarifies cosmic cycles, and Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga, as he emphasizes divine control, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s ignorance of cycles (1.28–46) contrasts with Duryodhana’s material pursuits (1.3–11). Krishna urges Arjuna to understand cosmic dissolution for his Kshatriya duty, aligning with Karma Yoga (2.47, 8.18–19). Krishna governs cosmic creation.

Philosophically, this verse addresses the human ignorance of cosmic processes, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on cycles (8.18–19). Arjuna’s reluctance complicates his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance to grasp divine control. 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 cyclic clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s transience, where Krishna manages cycles. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers for performing duty with cosmic awareness, aligning with liberation.