Chapter IX · Śloka 7
सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम् ।
कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम् ॥
कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम् ॥
sarva-bhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṃ yānti māmikām |
kalpa-kṣaye punas tāni kalpādau visṛjāmy aham ||
kalpa-kṣaye punas tāni kalpādau visṛjāmy aham ||
At the end of a cosmic cycle, O son of Kuntī, all beings return to My nature; at the beginning of the next cycle I send them forth again.
Cosmic dissolution and creation are rhythmic exhalation and inhalation of the Absolute. All beings are periodically reabsorbed into the Lord's primal nature and re-emitted at each new creation.