The Yoga of the Imperishable Absolute

Krishna describes the cycle of manifestation: 'Avyaktad vyaktayah sarvah prabhavanti aharagame'—all (sarvah) manifest beings (vyaktayah) come forth (prabhavanti) from the unmanifest (avyaktat) at the arrival (agame) of Brahma's day (ahar). 'Ratryagame pralayante tatraiva avyakta-samjnake'—at the arrival (agame) of his night (ratri) they merge (pralayante) into that same (tatra eva) unmanifest state (avyakta-samjnake). This verse describes the cosmic cycle: all manifest beings come from the unmanifest and return to it. Day represents manifestation—beings come forth. Night represents dissolution—beings merge back. This is the cycle of creation and destruction. But the unmanifest itself is eternal—it's the foundation that never changes. This helps you understand: everything manifest is temporary, but the unmanifest (Brahman) is eternal. This is what you're preparing to return to at death—not the temporary manifest, but the eternal unmanifest.