Chapter 13

Ksetra Ksetrajna Vibhaaga Yoga

क्षेत्र-क्षेत्रज्ञविभागयोग

Kṣhetra Kṣhetrajña Vibhāg Yog•“Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field”•35 Verses

A Reading - Rantideb

Chapter 12 closed with a list of daily character qualities marking real devotion. Chapter 13 shifts to a more analytical register, drawing a clear line between the field, the body and everything perishable about your circumstances, and the knower of the field, the awareness that observes all of it without being made of the same perishable material. Why this matters: it gives a precise, workable distinction for something most people sense vaguely but rarely name clearly, the difference between what's happening to you and the part of you that's aware it's happening. In life, this is the chapter for the moment you're in the middle of a stressful situation and can still, if you look for it, find a quieter part of yourself simply watching the stress unfold rather than being fully consumed by it. The teaching is that cultivating the ability to locate that observing awareness, especially under pressure, is itself the practice, not a bypass of the difficulty, but a steadier vantage point from which to actually meet it.

Chapter Summary

The thirteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is "Ksetra Ksetrajna Vibhaaga Yoga". The word "kshetra" means "the field", and the "kshetrajna" means "the knower of the field". We can think of our material body as the field and our immortal soul as the knower of the field. In this chapter, Krishna discriminates between the physical body and the immortal soul. He explains that the physical body is temporary and perishable whereas the soul is permanent and eternal. The physical body can be destroyed but the soul can never be destroyed. The chapter then describes God, who is the Supreme Soul. All the individual souls have originated from the Supreme Soul. One who clearly understands the difference between the body, the Soul and the Supreme Soul attains the realization of Brahman.

Verses in this Chapter (35)

Verse 1

अर्जुन उवाच प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञमेव च। एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं च केशव।।13.1।।

This is not a sentence, so there is nothing to fix.

Verse 2

श्री भगवानुवाचइदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते।एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः।।13.2।।

The Lord said, "O Arjuna, this body is called the Field, Ksetra. Those who know the self call the one who knows it the Field-knower, Ksetrajna."

Verse 3

क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत। क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम।।13.3।।

And know Me also as the Knower of all Fields, O Arjuna. In My view, the knowledge of the Field and its Knower is the true knowledge.

Verse 4

तत्क्षेत्रं यच्च यादृक् च यद्विकारि यतश्च यत्।स च यो यत्प्रभावश्च तत्समासेन मे श्रृणु।।13.4।।

Listen briefly from Me what the Field is, what it is like, what its modifications are, what purpose it serves, and what it is; as well as who the Self is and what its powers are.

Verse 5

ऋषिभिर्बहुधा गीतं छन्दोभिर्विविधैः पृथक्।ब्रह्मसूत्रपदैश्चैव हेतुमद्भिर्विनिश्िचतैः।।13.5।।

It has been sung by seers in various ways, in various distinctive hymns, and also in the well-reasoned and conclusive words of the Brahma-sutras.

Verse 6

महाभूतान्यहङ्कारो बुद्धिरव्यक्तमेव च।इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च पञ्च चेन्द्रियगोचराः।।13.6।।

The great elements, the Ahankara, the Buddhi, the Avyakta, the ten senses, and the one, in addition, the five objects of the senses;

Verse 7

इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं सङ्घातश्चेतनाधृतिः।एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन सविकारमुदाहृतम्।।13.7।।

Desire, hatred, pleasure, and pain, and the combination that constitutes the basis of consciousness - or the individual self - have been briefly described here, along with their modifications.

Verse 8

अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्।आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः।।13.8।।

Modesty, absence of ostentation, non-injury, patience, sincerity, service to the preceptor, purity, firmness, and self-restraint;

Verse 9

इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यमनहङ्कार एव च।जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखदोषानुदर्शनम्।।13.9।।

Absence of desire for sense-objects, and also absence of egotism, the recognition of evil in birth, death, old age, disease, and sorrow;

Verse 10

असक्ितरनभिष्वङ्गः पुत्रदारगृहादिषु।नित्यं च समचित्तत्वमिष्टानिष्टोपपत्तिषु।।13.10।।

Non-attachment, absence of clinging to son, wife, home, and the like, and constant even-mindedness in regard to all desirable and undesirable events;

Verse 11

मयि चानन्ययोगेन भक्ितरव्यभिचारिणी।विविक्तदेशसेवित्वमरतिर्जनसंसदि।।13.11।।

Constantly devote yourself to Me alone, resort to solitary places, and dislike crowds.

Verse 12

अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्।एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोन्यथा।।13.12।।

Constant contemplation on the knowledge pertaining to the self, reflection for the attainment of knowledge of the truth - this is declared to be knowledge, and what is contrary to it is ignorance.

Verse 13

ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वाऽमृतमश्नुते।अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म न सत्तन्नासदुच्यते।।13.13।।

I shall declare that which is to be known, knowing which one attains the immortal Self. It is beginningless Brahman, having Me as the Highest (Anadi Matparam); it is said to be neither being nor non-being.

Verse 14

सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम्।सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति।।13.14।।

Its hands and feet are everywhere; Its eyes, heads, and mouths are everywhere; Its ears are on all sides; and It exists, encompassing all things.

Verse 15

सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्।असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च।।13.15।।

Shining by the functions of the senses, yet devoid of the senses, detached yet supporting all, devoid of the Gunas yet experiencing the Gunas;

Verse 16

बहिरन्तश्च भूतानामचरं चरमेव च।सूक्ष्मत्वात्तदविज्ञेयं दूरस्थं चान्तिके च तत्।।13.16।।

It is within and without all beings; It is unmoving yet moving; It is so subtle that none can comprehend it; It is far away yet very near.

Verse 17

अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम्।भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च।।13.17।।

Undivided yet appearing as if divided among beings, this Self is to be known as the supporter of the elements. It devours them and causes their generation.

Verse 18

ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते।ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम्।।13.18।।

The light of all lights is said to be beyond Tamas (darkness); it is known to be knowledge, to be attained through knowledge, and to be present in the hearts of all.

Verse 19

इति क्षेत्रं तथा ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं चोक्तं समासतः।मद्भक्त एतद्विज्ञाय मद्भावायोपपद्यते।।13.19।।

Thus, the Ksetra, knowledge, and the object of knowledge have been briefly set forth. On knowing this, My devotee becomes fit to attain My state.

Verse 20

प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्ध्यनादी उभावपि।विकारांश्च गुणांश्चैव विद्धि प्रकृतिसंभवान्।।13.20।।

Know that both Prakṛti and the Self (Puruṣa) are without beginning; know that all modifications and the attributes are born from Prakṛti.

Verse 21

कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते।पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते।।13.21।।

The Prakṛti is said to be the cause of agency to the body (Kārya) and sense-organs (Karaṇa); the Self is said to be the cause of experiencing pleasure and pain.

Verse 22

पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान्।कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु।।13.22।।

(a) Indeed, the self seated in Prakrti experiences the Gunas born of Prakrti. (b) Its attachment to these Gunas is the cause of birth in good and evil wombs.

Verse 23

उपद्रष्टाऽनुमन्ता च भर्ता भोक्ता महेश्वरः।परमात्मेति चाप्युक्तो देहेऽस्मिन्पुरुषः परः।।13.23।।

The self in the body is called the spectator, approver, supporter, experiencer, great lord, and supreme self.

Verse 24

य एवं वेत्ति पुरुषं प्रकृतिं च गुणैःसह।सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि न स भूयोऽभिजायते।।13.24।।

He who understands the Self and Prakriti, along with the Gunas, will not be born again, no matter what state he may be in.

Verse 25

ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना।अन्ये सांख्येन योगेन कर्मयोगेन चापरे।।13.25।।

Some perceive the Self within the self (body) through meditation of the mind, others through Sankhya Yoga, and still others through Karma Yoga.

Verse 26

अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्तः श्रुत्वाऽन्येभ्य उपासते।तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणाः।।13.26।।

But some, who do not know this, having heard from others, worship accordingly - these too, devoted to what they hear, pass beyond death.

Verse 27

यावत्सञ्जायते किञ्चित्सत्त्वं स्थावरजङ्गमम्।क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगात्तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ।।13.27।।

Whatever being is born, whether it be moving or stationary, know, O Arjuna, that it is through the combination of the Ksetra (body) and Ksetrajna (knower of the Field).

Verse 28

समं सर्वेषु भूतेषु तिष्ठन्तं परमेश्वरम्।विनश्यत्स्वविनश्यन्तं यः पश्यति स पश्यति।।13.28।।

Who sees the supreme ruler dwelling alike in all bodies and never perishing, even when they perish, he indeed sees.

Verse 29

समं पश्यन्हि सर्वत्र समवस्थितमीश्वरम्।न हिनस्त्यात्मनाऽऽत्मानं ततो याति परां गतिम्।।13.29।।

For, seeing the ruler abiding alike in every place, he does not injure himself with his own mind and therefore reaches the highest goal.

Verse 30

प्रकृत्यैव च कर्माणि क्रियमाणानि सर्वशः।यः पश्यति तथाऽऽत्मानमकर्तारं स पश्यति।।13.30।।

He who sees that all acts are done universally by Prakrti alone, and likewise that the self is not the doer, he indeed sees.

Verse 31

यदा भूतपृथग्भावमेकस्थमनुपश्यति।तत एव च विस्तारं ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा।।13.31।।

When he perceives the independent modes of existence of all beings centered in one, and their expansion from it alone, then he attains Brahman.

Verse 32

अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः।शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते।।13.32।।

This supreme Self, though dwelling in the body, is immutable, O Arjuna, being without beginning. It neither acts nor is tainted, as it is without Gunas.

Verse 33

यथा सर्वगतं सौक्ष्म्यादाकाशं नोपलिप्यते।सर्वत्रावस्थितो देहे तथाऽऽत्मा नोपलिप्यते।।13.33।।

As the all-pervading ether is not tainted due to its subtlety, even so, the self abiding in the body is not tainted everywhere.

Verse 34

यथा प्रकाशयत्येकः कृत्स्नं लोकमिमं रविः।क्षेत्रं क्षेत्री तथा कृत्स्नं प्रकाशयति भारत।।13.34।।

As the one sun illuminates this entire world, so does the Knower of the Field (Ksetrin, the self), O Arjuna, illuminate the entire Field (the body).

Verse 35

क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोरेवमन्तरं ज्ञानचक्षुषा।भूतप्रकृतिमोक्षं च ये विदुर्यान्ति ते परम्।।13.35।।

Those who thus discern, with the eye of knowledge, the difference between the body or the Field (Ksetra) and the knower of the body or Field-knower (Ksetrajna), and the means of deliverance from the manifested Prakrti, they attain the Supreme.

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Verses

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