|| 8.4 ||

अधिभूतं क्षरो भावः पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम्। अधियज्ञोऽहमेवात्र देहे देहभृतां वर।।

adhibhūtaṁ kṣaro bhāvaḥ puruṣaś cādhidaivatam adhiyajño ’ham evātra dehe deha-bhṛtāṁ vara

adhibhūtam (the physical manifestation) kṣaraḥ (constantly changing) bhāvaḥ (nature) puruṣaḥ (the universal form) ca (and) adhidaivatam (the demigods) adhiyajñaḥ (the Lord of sacrifice) aham (I am) eva (certainly) atra (here) dehe (in the body) deha-bhṛtām (of the embodied) vara (O best)

O best of the embodied beings, the physical nature, which is constantly changing, is called adhibhuta [the material manifestation]. The universal form of the Lord, which includes all the demigods, like those of the sun and moon, is called adhidaiva. And I, the Supreme Lord, represented as the Supersoul in the heart of every embodied being, am called adhiyajna [the Lord of sacrifice].

Kṛṣṇa defines the remaining terms. ‘Adhibhūta’ is the material nature, which is ‘kṣaraḥ’, or constantly changing and perishable. It includes our bodies and the entire visible universe. ‘Adhidaiva’ is the universal form of the Lord, which includes all the demigods and celestial administrators. Finally, He reveals the answer to Arjuna’s most intimate question: “I am the Lord of sacrifice (‘Adhiyajña’) dwelling right here in this body.” As the Supersoul (Paramātmā), Kṛṣṇa is the silent witness and supporter of every individual soul. He is the one who accepts and sanctifies all our actions. He addresses Arjuna as the ‘best of embodied beings’ to remind him of his high potential. Kṛṣṇa is showing that the Supreme Lord is not a distant, unreachable power; He is closer than one’s own breath, living within the heart. This makes the path of worship and remembrance extremely direct and personal.
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