Gita 8.19
भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते।
रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे।।
bhūta-grāmaḥ sa evāyaṁ bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate rātry-āgame 'vaśaḥ pārtha prabhavaty ahar-āgame
"This same multitude of beings, arising again and again, helplessly dissolves at nightfall, O Arjuna, and manifests again at daybreak."
What This Means:
The same beings keep appearing and dissolving, helplessly (avasha). They don't choose to manifest or dissolve—they're carried by cosmic rhythm. This is samsara at the cosmic level.
Going Deeper:
The word 'avasha' (helpless) is key. Without liberation, beings have no choice in this. They're swept along by cosmic tides. Liberation means stepping off this wheel—choosing consciously.
How To Apply This:
Without awareness, you're carried by forces you don't control—cosmic, social, psychological. Spiritual practice is about gaining choice where there was only reaction. Don't be avasha (helpless).
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Bhūta-grāma= Multitude of beingsAvaśa= Helpless, without choiceBhūtvā bhūtvā= Again and again arising