Gita 7.9
Jnana Vijnana Yoga
पुण्यो गन्धः पृथिव्यां च तेजश्चास्मि विभावसौ । जीवनं सर्वभूतेषु तपश्चास्मि तपस्विषु ॥
puṇyo gandhaḥ pṛthivyāṁ ca tejaś cāsmi vibhāvasau | jīvanaṁ sarva-bhūteṣu tapaś cāsmi tapasviṣu ||
In essence: The Divine pervades all existence as the pure fragrance of earth, the heat of fire, the life-force animating every creature, and the spiritual intensity burning in those who seek truth.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "'Puṇyo gandhaḥ pṛthivyām'—the pure fragrance in earth. What makes it 'pure'? Earth can smell terrible."
Guru: "'Puṇya' means the original, essential quality—not every random smell but earth's inherent fragrance. Think of petrichor, the smell after rain on dry earth. That isn't contamination; it's earth revealing its nature. Krishna is in what is essential, not in what is accidental or corrupted."
Sadhak: "So the Divine is in the essence of things, not in every instance?"
Guru: "Exactly. Every element has an essential quality: earth's is smell, fire's is heat-light, water's is taste, air's is touch, space's is sound. Krishna identifies with these essential natures. When earth smells like earth—fresh, alive, foundational—that's divine presence. When earth smells of pollution, that's distortion, not essence."
Sadhak: "'Tejascāsmi vibhāvasau'—brilliance in fire. Is this the light, the heat, or something else?"
Guru: "'Tejas' encompasses both and more—it's the radiant, transformative power of fire. Fire illuminates, warms, purifies, transforms. That entire capacity is tejas. Every fire, from a candle to the sun, manifests this same essential power. The Divine is that power expressing through all instances of fire."
Sadhak: "'Jīvanaṁ sarva-bhūteṣu'—life in all beings. This seems the most profound. What exactly is this life?"
Guru: "What makes a living body different from a corpse? The same chemicals, the same organs, yet one is alive and one is dead. That difference—the animating principle, the vital force, consciousness expressing through form—is jīvana. Krishna says: 'That life you feel coursing through you, that is Me. I am what makes you alive rather than inert matter.'"
Sadhak: "So the Divine is the life in me? In this body, right now?"
Guru: "Yes—the most intimate presence. Closer than your breath, because your breath is alive with this presence. Every sensation of vitality, every moment of feeling alive—that isn't separate from the Divine. You cannot experience your own aliveness without experiencing divine presence."
Sadhak: "'Tapas' in ascetics—why mention this? It seems different from the natural qualities."
Guru: "Tapas brings the teaching to spiritual practice itself. Earth-fragrance and fire-brilliance happen naturally; tapas is chosen. It's the burning intensity of seeking truth—fasting, meditation, renunciation, discipline. Krishna says: 'Even your spiritual effort is My presence. When you burn for truth, that burning is Me in you.'"
Sadhak: "Does this mean all austerity is divine? Some ascetics seem misguided."
Guru: "Notice Krishna says 'tapaś cāsmi tapasviṣu'—tapas in true tapasvis, genuine practitioners. The Gita elsewhere distinguishes sattvic tapas (for purification) from rajasic (for show) and tamasic (through delusion). Krishna is the authentic spiritual fire, not the ego's performance of austerity."
Sadhak: "This verse moves from earth to fire to life to spiritual practice. Is there a pattern?"
Guru: "You're perceiving the structure beautifully. It moves from gross to subtle to the most subtle. Earth is dense, tangible; fire is more subtle, transformative; life itself is subtler still, the invisible animator; tapas is the subtlest—the spiritual fire that consciousness kindles in its search for truth. The Divine pervades all these levels."
Sadhak: "How do I use this in practice? I can't walk around smelling earth and staring at fire all day."
Guru: "Use it as a lens of recognition. When you do encounter earth's fragrance—gardening, walking after rain—recognize. When near fire—cooking, candlelight—recognize. Most importantly: throughout every moment, recognize that you are alive, and that aliveness is divine presence. And when you practice—meditate, fast, discipline yourself—know that the very burning is sacred."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Practice 'Elemental Recognition' meditation. Step outside if possible and smell the earth—especially after rain or in a garden. Recognize: 'This fragrance is divine presence.' Light a candle or incense and gaze at the flame. Feel its warmth, see its light. Recognize: 'This brilliance is divine presence.' Then turn attention inward: feel yourself alive—breathing, heart beating, aware. Recognize: 'This life is divine presence.' Finally, as you sit for practice, feel the commitment, the discipline, the 'burning' to grow spiritually. Recognize: 'This tapas is divine presence.'
Carry the four recognitions through your day. When you encounter earthy smells—food, nature, soil—pause and recognize. When you encounter heat or fire—cooking, sunlight, warmth—recognize. Most continuously: throughout every activity, maintain background awareness that you are alive, and this aliveness is divine. When you exercise discipline—choosing the harder right over the easier wrong, maintaining focus, practicing restraint—recognize that discipline as tapas, as divine fire burning in you.
Reflect on the day through the lens of this verse. What fragrances did you encounter? Each was an opportunity to meet the Divine. What sources of heat and light? Each was divine brilliance manifesting. Were you alive all day? Every moment was divine life expressing through you. Did you practice any discipline, make any effortful choices for growth? Each was tapas, sacred fire. End with the recognition: 'The Divine was never absent. In earth, fire, my own aliveness, and my own effort—presence everywhere, waiting to be noticed.'