न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् ।भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममात्मा भूतभावनः ॥
na ca matsthāni bhūtāni paśya me yogam aiśvaram | bhūtabhṛn na ca bhūtastho mamātmā bhūtabhāvanaḥ ||
- न च · na ca
- and yet not
- मत्स्थानि · matsthāni
- abiding in me
- भूतानि · bhūtāni
- beings
- पश्य · paśya
- behold
- योगम् ऐश्वरम् · yogam aiśvaram
- my sovereign yoga, mystery
- भूतभृत् · bhūtabhṛt
- the supporter of beings
- न भूतस्थः · na bhūtasthaḥ
- not dwelling in beings
- आत्मा · ātmā
- the self
- भूतभावनः · bhūtabhāvanaḥ
- the bringer-forth of beings
“And yet beings do not abide in me — behold my sovereign mystery. My self supports beings and brings them forth, yet does not dwell in them.”
— Original plain-language translation
The paradox is deliberately tightened until logic surrenders and vision takes over — hence behold. God upholds all without being lodged in any. Compare 8.22, where the same tension resolves into devotion.
— Reader's notes (original)