Bhagavad Gita 18.61 — Ishvarah Sarva-Bhutanam — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १८.६१ — ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानाम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
ईश्वरः
īśhvaraḥ
the Supreme Lord
सर्वभूतानाम्
sarva-bhūtānām
of all living beings
हृद्देशे
hṛid-deśhe
in the region of the heart
अर्जुन
arjuna
O Arjuna
तिष्ठति
tiṣhṭhati
dwells, is seated
भ्रामयन्
bhrāmayan
causing to revolve, to wander, to spin
सर्वभूतानि
sarva-bhūtāni
all living beings
यन्त्रारूढानि
yantra-ārūḍhāni
mounted on a machine
मायया
māyayā
by His illusory power (maya)
Complete Translation
The Supreme Lord dwells in the hearts of all beings, O Arjuna, causing them all to revolve by His maya, as though mounted on a machine.
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 61
Author: Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva)
Period: Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)
In the eighteenth and final chapter, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Krishna gathers the essence of his teaching before the climactic command to surrender. Here he reveals that the Lord abides in the heart of every being and, through His maya, turns all creatures as if mounted on a machine — leading directly into his counsel for Arjuna to take refuge in Him with his whole being.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 18.61 teach?▼
It teaches that the Supreme Lord dwells in the hearts of all beings and, by His maya, moves all creatures as though they were mounted on a machine. God is both the nearest indwelling presence and the power behind the turning of the world.
What is the 'machine' (yantra) in this verse?▼
The 'machine' is a metaphor for the body and the mechanism of nature in which beings are seated. Just as a figure mounted on a revolving device is turned by it, all creatures are moved by the Lord's maya through the body-mind apparatus.
If the Lord makes beings 'revolve by maya', do we have free will?▼
The verse describes how the deluded are swept along by maya. But the very next verses urge Arjuna to take refuge in the Lord, by whose grace one transcends maya and attains peace — showing that surrender to the indwelling God lifts us beyond mere mechanical revolving.
How does this verse help spiritual practice?▼
It points the seeker inward to the Lord seated in the heart, encouraging meditation on the indwelling Divine and surrender to His will. Recognizing God within dissolves the sense of being a helpless puppet and opens the way to His liberating grace.
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