Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 7
सर्वभूतानि कौन्तेय प्रकृतिं यान्ति मामिकाम् | कल्पक्षये पुनस्तानि कल्पादौ विसृजाम्यहम् ||
sarva-bhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṁ yānti māmikām kalpa-kṣaye punas tāni kalpādau visṛjāmy aham
O Arjuna, at the end of a cycle, all beings enter into My material nature, and at the beginning of another cycle, I create them again.
Krishna reveals the cycle of creation and dissolution: 'Sarva-bhutani kaunteya prakritim yanti mamikam'—all beings (sarva-bhutani), O Arjuna (kaunteya), enter into My material nature (prakritim mamikam yanti). 'Kalpa-kshaye punas tani kalpadau visrijamy aham'—at the end of a cycle (kalpa-kshaye), again (punas), I (aham) create them (tani visrijami) at the beginning of a cycle (kalpadau). This is the cosmic cycle: creation, maintenance, dissolution, and recreation. All beings dissolve into material nature (prakriti), then the Supreme creates them again. This isn't destruction—it's transformation. The cycle continues eternally, revealing the Supreme's power over creation and dissolution.