B.G 4.05 and 06
श्रीभगवानुवाच
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन। तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ॥५॥
The Supreme Lord said:
O Arjuna, you and I have passed through many lives. I know all of them, but you, O Subduer of enemies, are not acquainted with them.
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्। प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया ॥६॥
Though my body is imperishable and I am the supreme lord of all the beings, I re-manifest and seem to be born, having established myself in my own inherent nature with the delusional power I possess.
Gīta Tātparya 4.06
'ātmamāyayā' - on His own interest. 'prakr̥tiṁ svāmadhiṣṭhāya' - by His inherent nature He established Himself. Unlike verses 7.5 and 9.10, here word 'Prakrti' is used with word 'sva', and thus needs to be interpreted as 'inherent nature', and not as 'insentient'.
आत्ममायया आत्मेच्छया। प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय स्वभावम्।
The word 'ātmamāyayā' means on His own interest. The usage 'prakr̥tiṁ svāmadhiṣṭhāya', means by His inherent nature he established Himself.
"देवस्यैष स्वभावोऽयम्"
"This inherent nature is that of the Lord only."
इत्यादिश्रुतेश्च। अत एव स्वशब्देन विशेषणं
- there are such Vedic testimonials as well. For this reason only, the word 'sva' has special meaning:
"प्रकृतिं स्वामवष्टभ्य"
"He Himself, having entered the 'Prakrti', i.e. governing deity of the insentient".
इत्यादिषु।
-there are such testimonials as well.
"मयाध्यक्षेण प्रकृतिः"
"The 'Prakrti', i.e. governing deity of insentient is supervised by Me." (Bhagavad Gita 9.10)
इत्यादिषु तु न स्वशब्दः।
At verse 9.10 of Bhagavad Gita, 'sva' word is not used, (hence, here the usage does not mean 'My own inherent nature').
"प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम्"
"Understand Prakrti to be superior energy of mine."(Bhagavad Gita 7.5)
इत्यादिषु सम्बन्धित्वेन प्रतीतेरन्या।
In such cases, due to asociation, the word ('Prakrti') needs to be interpreted differently.
अत्र तु स्वशब्दः स्वरूपवाची। स्वभाव इत्यत्रापि स्वाख्यो भावः स्वभावः। भावशब्दस्तु सम्बन्ध्याशङ्कानिवृत्तये। स्वस्वभाव इति तु स्वस्वरूपमितिवदुपचारत्वाशङ्कां निवर्तयति।
In the current context, the word 'sva' conveys 'inherent nature'. In the usage of word 'svabhava' in the current context, it is identified with 'self becoming' and thus means 'inherent nature'. Indeed, the word 'bhāva', i.e. becoming, is used to remove any doubt regarding its reference. The usage "One's own inherent nature", is similar to the usage "One's own form". This way, it dispels the doubt regarding its appropriateness.
"स्रष्टृत्वादिस्वभावत्वात् स्वेच्छया विष्णुरव्ययः। सृष्ट्यादिकं करोत्यद्धा स्वयं च बहुधा भवेत्॥"
"The imperishable lord Vishnu, as per His independent will, by his inherent nature ('svabhāva'), undertakes creation and such activities. By such creation activities, He Himself becomes many."
इति नारायणश्रुतिः ॥६,७॥
- thus states Narayana Vedic testimonial.
Note:For grammatical clarification, it is necessary to refer to Gita Vivrutti of Sri Raghavendra Theertha, which is beyond the scope of current translation.
