Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 13 of 18

Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga

क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञविभागयोग — The Field and the Knower of the Field · 34 verses

All 34 verses

Sanskrit, transliteration and English meaning for every verse.

1. 13.1 · Krishna

   इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते ।
   एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः ॥

   idaṃ śarīraṃ kaunteya kṣetramityabhidhīyate |
   etadyo vetti taṃ prāhuḥ kṣetrajña iti tadvidaḥ ||

   The Lord said: This body, son of Kunti, is called the field (kshetra). The one who knows it is called the knower of the field (kshetrajna) by those who understand these things.

2. 13.2 · Krishna

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

   kṣetrajñaṃ cāpi māṃ viddhi sarvakṣetreṣu bhārata |
   kṣetrakṣetrajñayorjñānaṃ yattajjñānaṃ mataṃ mama ||

   Know me also to be the knower of the field in all fields, Bharata. Knowledge of the field and of its knower — that, in my view, is true knowledge.

3. 13.3 · Krishna

   तत्क्षेत्रं यच्च यादृक्च यद्विकारि यतश्च यत् ।
   स च यो यत्प्रभावश्च तत्समासेन मे शृणु ॥

   tatkṣetraṃ yacca yādṛkca yadvikāri yataśca yat |
   sa ca yo yatprabhāvaśca tatsamāsena me śṛṇu ||

   Hear from me in brief what the field is, what it is like, what changes it undergoes and from what it arises; and who its knower is, and what his powers are.

4. 13.4 · Krishna

   ऋषिभिर्बहुधा गीतं छन्दोभिर्विविधैः पृथक् ।
   ब्रह्मसूत्रपदैश्चैव हेतुमद्भिर्विनिश्चितैः ॥

   ṛṣibhirbahudhā gītaṃ chandobhirvividhaiḥ pṛthak |
   brahmasūtrapadaiścaiva hetumadbhirviniścitaiḥ ||

   This has been sung by the seers in many ways, separately in various hymns, and also in the aphorisms concerning Brahman (the Absolute), which are well reasoned and conclusive.

5. 13.5 · Krishna

   महाभूतान्यहंकारो बुद्धिरव्यक्तमेव च ।
   इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च पञ्च चेन्द्रियगोचराः ॥

   mahābhūtānyahaṃkāro buddhiravyaktameva ca |
   indriyāṇi daśaikaṃ ca pañca cendriyagocarāḥ ||

   The great elements, the ego, the intellect and the unmanifest; the ten senses and the mind; the five objects of the senses —

6. 13.6 · Krishna

   इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं संघातश्चेतना धृतिः ।
   एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन सविकारमुदाहृतम् ॥

   icchā dveṣaḥ sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ saṃghātaścetanā dhṛtiḥ |
   etatkṣetraṃ samāsena savikāramudāhṛtam ||

   — desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, the body as a whole, awareness and steadfastness: this, in brief, is the field together with its modifications.

7. 13.7 · Krishna

   अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम् ।
   आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः ॥

   amānitvamadambhitvamahiṃsā kṣāntirārjavam |
   ācāryopāsanaṃ śaucaṃ sthairyamātmavinigrahaḥ ||

   Humility, freedom from pretence, non-violence, patience, uprightness, service of the teacher, purity, steadiness, self-control —

8. 13.8 · Krishna

   इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यमनहंकार एव च ।
   जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखदोषानुदर्शनम् ॥

   indriyārtheṣu vairāgyamanahaṃkāra eva ca |
   janmamṛtyujarāvyādhiduḥkhadoṣānudarśanam ||

   — detachment from the objects of the senses, absence of ego, and seeing clearly the evil and suffering of birth, death, old age and disease —

9. 13.9 · Krishna

   असक्तिरनभिष्वङ्गः पुत्रदारगृहादिषु ।
   नित्यं च समचित्तत्वमिष्टानिष्टोपपत्तिषु ॥

   asaktiranabhiṣvaṅgaḥ putradāragṛhādiṣu |
   nityaṃ ca samacittatvamiṣṭāniṣṭopapattiṣu ||

   — non-attachment, freedom from clinging to son, wife, home and the like, and constant even-mindedness in the face of what is wanted and what is unwanted —

10. 13.10 · Krishna

    मयि चानन्ययोगेन भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी ।
    विविक्तदेशसेवित्वमरतिर्जनसंसदि ॥

    mayi cānanyayogena bhaktiravyabhicāriṇī |
    viviktadeśasevitvamaratirjanasaṃsadi ||

    — unwavering devotion to me through single-minded yoga, a love of solitary places, and no taste for crowds —

11. 13.11 · Krishna

    अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम् ।
    एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोऽन्यथा ॥

    adhyātmajñānanityatvaṃ tattvajñānārthadarśanam |
    etajjñānamiti proktamajñānaṃ yadato’nyathā ||

    — constancy in knowledge of the Self, and insight into the aim of the knowledge of truth: this is declared to be knowledge, and whatever is contrary to it is ignorance.

12. 13.12 · Krishna

    ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते ।
    अनादि मत्परं ब्रह्म न सत्तन्नासदुच्यते ॥

    jñeyaṃ yattatpravakṣyāmi yajjñātvāmṛtamaśnute |
    anādi matparaṃ brahma na sattannāsaducyate ||

    I will describe what is to be known, by knowing which one attains immortality: the beginningless supreme Brahman (the Absolute), which is said to be neither being nor non-being.

13. 13.13 · Krishna

    सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम् ।
    सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति ॥

    sarvataḥ pāṇipādaṃ tatsarvato’kṣiśiromukham |
    sarvataḥ śrutimalloke sarvamāvṛtya tiṣṭhati ||

    Its hands and feet are everywhere; its eyes, heads and mouths are everywhere; its ears are everywhere. It abides in the world, enveloping all.

14. 13.14 · Krishna

    सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम् ।
    असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च ॥

    sarvendriyaguṇābhāsaṃ sarvendriyavivarjitam |
    asaktaṃ sarvabhṛccaiva nirguṇaṃ guṇabhoktṛ ca ||

    It shines through the functions of all the senses, yet is free of every sense; unattached, yet sustaining all; free of the gunas (qualities of nature), yet experiencing the gunas.

15. 13.15 · Krishna

    बहिरन्तश्च भूतानामचरं चरमेव च ।
    सूक्ष्मत्वात्तदविज्ञेयं दूरस्थं चान्तिके च तत् ॥

    bahirantaśca bhūtānāmacaraṃ carameva ca |
    sūkṣmatvāttadavijñeyaṃ dūrasthaṃ cāntike ca tat ||

    It is outside and inside all beings, unmoving and also moving. Being subtle, it cannot be grasped; it is far away, and yet it is near.

16. 13.16 · Krishna

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

    avibhaktaṃ ca bhūteṣu vibhaktamiva ca sthitam |
    bhūtabhartṛ ca tajjñeyaṃ grasiṣṇu prabhaviṣṇu ca ||

    Undivided, it seems to exist divided among beings. It is to be known as the sustainer of beings, their devourer and their creator.

17. 13.17 · Krishna

    ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते ।
    ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम् ॥

    jyotiṣāmapi tajjyotistamasaḥ paramucyate |
    jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ jñānagamyaṃ hṛdi sarvasya viṣṭhitam ||

    It is the light of all lights and is said to be beyond darkness. It is knowledge, the object of knowledge and the goal of knowledge, seated in the hearts of all.

18. 13.18 · Krishna

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

    iti kṣetraṃ tathā jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ coktaṃ samāsataḥ |
    madbhakta etadvijñāya madbhāvāyopapadyate ||

    Thus the field, knowledge and the object of knowledge have been briefly described. My devotee, understanding this, comes to my state of being.

19. 13.19 · Krishna

    प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्ध्यनादी उभावपि ।
    विकारांश्च गुणांश्चैव विद्धि प्रकृतिसंभवान् ॥

    prakṛtiṃ puruṣaṃ caiva viddhyanādī ubhāvapi |
    vikārāṃśca guṇāṃścaiva viddhi prakṛtisaṃbhavān ||

    Know that prakriti (nature) and purusha (spirit) are both without beginning, and know that the modifications and the gunas arise from prakriti.

20. 13.20 · Krishna

    कार्यकरणकर्तृत्वे हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते ।
    पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते ॥

    kāryakaraṇakartṛtve hetuḥ prakṛtirucyate |
    puruṣaḥ sukhaduḥkhānāṃ bhoktṛtve heturucyate ||

    Prakriti is said to be the cause in producing effects, instruments and agency; purusha is said to be the cause in the experience of pleasure and pain.

21. 13.21 · Krishna

    पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्‌क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् ।
    कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ॥

    puruṣaḥ prakṛtistho hi bhuṅ‌kte prakṛtijānguṇān |
    kāraṇaṃ guṇasaṅgo’sya sadasadyonijanmasu ||

    Purusha, dwelling in prakriti, experiences the gunas born of prakriti. Attachment to the gunas is the cause of its births in good and evil wombs.

22. 13.22 · Krishna

    उपद्रष्टानुमन्ता च भर्ता भोक्ता महेश्वरः ।
    परमात्मेति चाप्युक्तो देहेऽस्मिन्पुरुषः परः ॥

    upadraṣṭānumantā ca bhartā bhoktā maheśvaraḥ |
    paramātmeti cāpyukto dehe’sminpuruṣaḥ paraḥ ||

    The supreme Person in this body is also called the witness, the one who consents, the sustainer, the experiencer, the great Lord and the supreme Self.

23. 13.23 · Krishna

    य एवं वेत्ति पुरुषं प्रकृतिं च गुणैः सह ।
    सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि न स भूयोऽभिजायते ॥

    ya evaṃ vetti puruṣaṃ prakṛtiṃ ca guṇaiḥ saha |
    sarvathā vartamāno’pi na sa bhūyo’bhijāyate ||

    One who knows purusha, and prakriti together with the gunas, in this way is not born again, however he may be living.

24. 13.24 · Krishna

    ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना ।
    अन्ये सांख्येन योगेन कर्मयोगेन चापरे ॥

    dhyānenātmani paśyanti kecidātmānamātmanā |
    anye sāṃkhyena yogena karmayogena cāpare ||

    Some, through meditation, see the Self within themselves by their own mind; others see it through the yoga of knowledge (Sankhya), and still others through the yoga of action.

25. 13.25 · Krishna

    अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्तः श्रुत्वान्येभ्य उपासते ।
    तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणाः ॥

    anye tvevamajānantaḥ śrutvānyebhya upāsate |
    te’pi cātitarantyeva mṛtyuṃ śrutiparāyaṇāḥ ||

    Others, not knowing this, worship after hearing of it from others; they too, devoted to what they have heard, cross beyond death.

26. 13.26 · Krishna

    यावत्संजायते किंचित्सत्त्वं स्थावरजङ्गमम् ।
    क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगात्तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ ॥

    yāvatsaṃjāyate kiṃcitsattvaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam |
    kṣetrakṣetrajñasaṃyogāttadviddhi bharatarṣabha ||

    Whatever being comes into existence, moving or unmoving, know that it arises from the union of the field and the knower of the field, best of the Bharatas.

27. 13.27 · Krishna

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

    samaṃ sarveṣu bhūteṣu tiṣṭhantaṃ parameśvaram |
    vinaśyatsvavinaśyantaṃ yaḥ paśyati sa paśyati ||

    One who sees the supreme Lord dwelling equally in all beings, the imperishable within the perishing, truly sees.

28. 13.28 · Krishna

    समं पश्यन्हि सर्वत्र समवस्थितमीश्वरम् ।
    न हिनस्त्यात्मनात्मानं ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥

    samaṃ paśyanhi sarvatra samavasthitamīśvaram |
    na hinastyātmanātmānaṃ tato yāti parāṃ gatim ||

    Seeing the same Lord present equally everywhere, one does not harm the Self by the self, and so reaches the highest goal.

29. 13.29 · Krishna

    प्रकृत्यैव च कर्माणि क्रियमाणानि सर्वशः ।
    यः पश्यति तथात्मानमकर्तारं स पश्यति ॥

    prakṛtyaiva ca karmāṇi kriyamāṇāni sarvaśaḥ |
    yaḥ paśyati tathātmānamakartāraṃ sa paśyati ||

    One who sees that all actions are performed by prakriti alone, and that the Self is not the doer, truly sees.

30. 13.30 · Krishna

    यदा भूतपृथग्भावमेकस्थमनुपश्यति ।
    तत एव च विस्तारं ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा ॥

    yadā bhūtapṛthagbhāvamekasthamanupaśyati |
    tata eva ca vistāraṃ brahma saṃpadyate tadā ||

    When one perceives the separate existence of beings as resting in the One, and their unfolding from that One alone, then one attains Brahman.

31. 13.31 · Krishna

    अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः ।
    शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ॥

    anāditvānnirguṇatvātparamātmāyamavyayaḥ |
    śarīrastho’pi kaunteya na karoti na lipyate ||

    Because it is without beginning and free of the gunas, this imperishable supreme Self neither acts nor is tainted, son of Kunti, even though it dwells in the body.

32. 13.32 · Krishna

    यथा सर्वगतं सौक्ष्म्यादाकाशं नोपलिप्यते ।
    सर्वत्रावस्थितो देहे तथात्मा नोपलिप्यते ॥

    yathā sarvagataṃ saukṣmyādākāśaṃ nopalipyate |
    sarvatrāvasthito dehe tathātmā nopalipyate ||

    Just as all-pervading space, because of its subtlety, is not tainted, so the Self, present throughout the body, is not tainted.

33. 13.33 · Krishna

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

    yathā prakāśayatyekaḥ kṛtsnaṃ lokamimaṃ raviḥ |
    kṣetraṃ kṣetrī tathā kṛtsnaṃ prakāśayati bhārata ||

    As the one sun lights up this whole world, so the lord of the field lights up the whole field, Bharata.

34. 13.34 · Krishna

    क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोरेवमन्तरं ज्ञानचक्षुषा ।
    भूतप्रकृतिमोक्षं च ये विदुर्यान्ति ते परम् ॥

    kṣetrakṣetrajñayorevamantaraṃ jñānacakṣuṣā |
    bhūtaprakṛtimokṣaṃ ca ye viduryānti te param ||

    Those who, with the eye of wisdom, perceive this difference between the field and the knower of the field, and the release of beings from prakriti, reach the Supreme.