adhibhūtaṁ kṣharo bhāvaḥ puruṣhaśh chādhidaivatam
adhiyajño ’ham evātra dehe deha-bhṛitāṁ vara
adhibhūtam — the ever changing physical manifestation;
kṣharaḥ — perishable;
bhāvaḥ — nature;
puruṣhaḥ — the cosmic personality of God, encompassing the material creation;
cha — and;
adhidaivatam — the Lord of the celestial gods;
adhiyajñaḥ — the Lord of all sacrifices;
aham — I;
eva — certainly;
atra — here;
dehe — in the body;
deha-bhṛitām — of the embodied;
vara — O best
In this verse, we learn about the nature of the physical world and how it connects to a higher spiritual reality. The first part says that the physical world is always changing. Everything around us is in constant motion—things are born, they grow up, exist for a while, produce new things, get old, and eventually disappear. This cycle is part of life. Think about how trees grow, change color with the seasons, drop their leaves, and sometimes die. That’s how the physical world—that's called 'adhibhutam'—works.
Next, the verse mentions a bigger picture: the entire universe is described as the cosmic body of a supreme being, often referred to as the Supreme God or Supreme Lord. This means that the universe is not just random; it has a purpose and is a part of something greater. This universal aspect of God is called 'adhidaivatam.' It shows that there are many different heavenly beings or demigods in charge of various aspects of life and nature.
The verse then shifts to talk about the individual soul, often called 'jiva.' Each of us has a soul that travels with our physical body, which is made of matter. When someone talks about 'Supersoul' or 'Paramatma,' they are talking about a divine presence that exists in everyone. This is a representation of God that watches over us and is always present within us, in our hearts. It sees everything we do and gives us the ability to think and make choices.
The word 'eva' is important because it confirms that this Supersoul is not separate from the Supreme Lord; they are one and the same. For people who truly devote themselves to serving the Supreme Lord, the connection between them and this divine presence becomes clear.
For beginners, this relationship may seem complex, so they are encouraged to think of the universe as a representation of God. When meditating on this universal form of the Lord, one might imagine the vastness of the universe where various parts symbolize different aspects of life—like how the legs represent lower planets, the eyes represent the sun and moon, and the head represents higher places in the universe.
By understanding our changing physical nature and the presence of the Supersoul within us, we can begin to see how everything is interconnected. It helps to realize that amidst all the changes and challenges in life, there is a higher power that guides and supports us.