Chapter 13 · Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field

13.1

अर्जुन उवाच | प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञमेव च | एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं च केशव ||१३-१||

arjuna uvāca . prakṛtiṃ puruṣaṃ caiva kṣetraṃ kṣetrajñameva ca . etadveditumicchāmi jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ ca keśava ||13-1||

Arjuna said, I want to understand the fundamental nature of the universe, the essence of the individual self, and the relationship between them, as well as what it means to have true knowledge and what is worth knowing, Krishna.

13.2

श्रीभगवानुवाच | इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते | एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः ||१३-२||

śrībhagavānuvāca . idaṃ śarīraṃ kaunteya kṣetramityabhidhīyate . etadyo vetti taṃ prāhuḥ kṣetrajña iti tadvidaḥ ||13-2||

Krishna tells Arjuna that this body is known as the field, and the one who truly understands it is called the knower of the field by those who are wise. This body is the domain where spiritual awareness unfolds, and the being who is aware of its workings is recognized as the knower. The sages acknowledge the one who has this deeper understanding as the knower of the field.

13.3

क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत | क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम ||१३-३||

kṣetrajñaṃ cāpi māṃ viddhi sarvakṣetreṣu bhārata . kṣetrakṣetrajñayorjñānaṃ yattajjñānaṃ mataṃ mama ||13-3||

Recognize me, Arjuna, as the one who knows the field in every field, and understand that true knowledge is knowing both the field and the knower of the field, a realization that I consider to be the ultimate understanding.

13.4

तत्क्षेत्रं यच्च यादृक्च यद्विकारि यतश्च यत् | स च यो यत्प्रभावश्च तत्समासेन मे शृणु ||१३-४||

tatkṣetraṃ yacca yādṛkca yadvikāri yataśca yat . sa ca yo yatprabhāvaśca tatsamāsena me śṛṇu ||13-4||

Krishna will now briefly explain the nature of the physical world, its components, its origin, and its transformations, as well as the essence of the self and its inherent power.

13.5

ऋषिभिर्बहुधा गीतं छन्दोभिर्विविधैः पृथक् | ब्रह्मसूत्रपदैश्चैव हेतुमद्भिर्विनिश्चितैः ||१३-५||

ṛṣibhirbahudhā gītaṃ chandobhirvividhaiḥ pṛthak . brahmasūtrapadaiścaiva hetumadbhirviniścitaiḥ ||13-5||

Sages have expressed their understanding in many different ways, using a variety of poetic forms and philosophical concepts that are both thoughtful and conclusive, all pointing to the ultimate reality.

13.6

महाभूतान्यहंकारो बुद्धिरव्यक्तमेव च | इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च पञ्च चेन्द्रियगोचराः ||१३-६||

mahābhūtānyahaṃkāro buddhiravyaktameva ca . indriyāṇi daśaikaṃ ca pañca cendriyagocarāḥ ||13-6||

The fundamental elements of nature, the ego, the intellect, and the unperceivable reality, along with the ten senses, the mind, and the five sensory realms that they interact with.

13.7

इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं संघातश्चेतना धृतिः | एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन सविकारमुदाहृतम् ||१३-७||

icchā dveṣaḥ sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ saṃghātaścetanā dhṛtiḥ . etatkṣetraṃ samāsena savikāramudāhṛtam ||13-7||

Desire and dislike, happiness and sorrow, the physical body, awareness, and determination - these are the key elements that make up the field of life, along with all its variations.

13.8

अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम् | आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः ||१३-८||

amānitvamadambhitvamahiṃsā kṣāntirārjavam . ācāryopāsanaṃ śaucaṃ sthairyamātmavinigrahaḥ ||13-8||

Being humble and genuine, doing no harm, and being forgiving, straightforward, and loyal to one's teacher are key, along with maintaining purity, staying grounded, and having self-discipline.

13.9

इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यमनहंकार एव च | जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखदोषानुदर्शनम् ||१३-९||

indriyārtheṣu vairāgyamanahaṃkāra eva ca . janmamṛtyujarāvyādhiduḥkhadoṣānudarśanam ||13-9||

Detachment from sense pleasures and letting go of ego, along with a clear understanding of the suffering that comes with birth, death, aging, disease, and pain.

13.10

असक्तिरनभिष्वङ्गः पुत्रदारगृहादिषु | नित्यं च समचित्तत्वमिष्टानिष्टोपपत्तिषु ||१३-१०||

asaktiranabhiṣvaṅgaḥ putradāragṛhādiṣu . nityaṃ ca samacittatvamiṣṭāniṣṭopapattiṣu ||13-10||

Detachment from things like family and home, not identifying oneself with them, and a consistent, level-headed attitude whether faced with pleasant or unpleasant events.

13.11

मयि चानन्ययोगेन भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी | विविक्तदेशसेवित्वमरतिर्जनसंसदि ||१३-११||

mayi cānanyayogena bhaktiravyabhicāriṇī . viviktadeśasevitvamaratirjanasaṃsadi ||13-11||

Devotion to me that never wavers, through a deep and constant connection, a preference for quiet solitude, and a lack of attachment to social gatherings.

13.12

अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम् | एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोऽन्यथा ||१३-१२||

adhyātmajñānanityatvaṃ tattvajñānārthadarśanam . etajjñānamiti proktamajñānaṃ yadato.anyathā ||13-12||

Steadfast commitment to understanding the self and the ultimate reality is what's considered true knowledge, while anything that deviates from this path is seen as ignorance.

13.13

ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते | अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म न सत्तन्नासदुच्यते ||१३-१३||

jñeyaṃ yattatpravakṣyāmi yajjñātvāmṛtamaśnute . anādi matparaṃ brahma na sattannāsaducyate ||13-13||

I'll explain the ultimate reality that you need to understand, which brings eternal life. This supreme reality is beyond beginnings, and it's not accurately described as existing or non-existing, it's the absolute Brahman.

13.14

सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम् | सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति ||१३-१४||

sarvataḥ pāṇipādaṃ tatsarvato.akṣiśiromukham . sarvataḥ śrutimalloke sarvamāvṛtya tiṣṭhati ||13-14||

It has hands and feet everywhere, seeing and thinking and speaking through all eyes, heads, and mouths, hearing everything, and embracing all the worlds.

13.15

सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम् | असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च ||१३-१५||

sarvendriyaguṇābhāsaṃ sarvendriyavivarjitam . asaktaṃ sarvabhṛccaiva nirguṇaṃ guṇabhoktṛ ca ||13-15||

It illuminates all sensory experiences, yet it's beyond the reach of the senses. Although unattached to anything, it's the foundation that supports everything, and while it's not defined by any qualities, it's the one that experiences them all.

13.16

बहिरन्तश्च भूतानामचरं चरमेव च | सूक्ष्मत्वात्तदविज्ञेयं दूरस्थं चान्तिके च तत् ||१३-१६||

bahirantaśca bhūtānāmacaraṃ carameva ca . sūkṣmatvāttadavijñeyaṃ dūrasthaṃ cāntike ca tat ||13-16||

It exists both outside and inside all living things, and it's both stationary and in motion. Because it's so subtle, it's impossible to fully understand. At the same time, it's incredibly close, yet it can also seem very far away.

13.17

अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम् | भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च ||१३-१७||

avibhaktaṃ ca bhūteṣu vibhaktamiva ca sthitam . bhūtabhartṛ ca tajjñeyaṃ grasiṣṇu prabhaviṣṇu ca ||13-17||

It remains undivided, yet appears to be divided among all living beings, and it's the one that sustains everything, constantly creating and destroying.

13.18

ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते | ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम् ||१३-१८||

jyotiṣāmapi tajjyotistamasaḥ paramucyate . jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ jñānagamyaṃ hṛdi sarvasya viṣṭhitam ||13-18||

It's the light that shines brighter than all others, beyond the reach of darkness, and it's the source of all knowledge, the ultimate truth to be known, and the destination of all understanding, residing in every heart. This light is the essence of wisdom, the one thing that truly matters, and it's present in the depths of every person.

13.19

इति क्षेत्रं तथा ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं चोक्तं समासतः | मद्भक्त एतद्विज्ञाय मद्भावायोपपद्यते ||१३-१९||

iti kṣetraṃ tathā jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ coktaṃ samāsataḥ . madbhakta etadvijñāya madbhāvāyopapadyate ||13-19||

The nature of the world, the process of understanding, and the ultimate reality have been explained in summary. By grasping this, my devoted follower comes to experience my divine presence. This understanding allows them to merge with me, becoming one with my essence.

13.20

प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्ध्यनादी उभावपि | विकारांश्च गुणांश्चैव विद्धि प्रकृतिसम्भवान् ||१३-२०||

prakṛtiṃ puruṣaṃ caiva viddhyanādi ubhāvapi . vikārāṃśca guṇāṃścaiva viddhi prakṛtisambhavān ||13-20||

Recognize that both the material world and the divine spirit have always existed, and understand that all changes and qualities arise from the material world.

13.21

कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते | पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते ||१३-२१||

kāryakāraṇakartṛtve hetuḥ prakṛtirucyate . puruṣaḥ sukhaduḥkhānāṃ bhoktṛtve heturucyate ||13-21||

In the interplay of cause and effect, it's the material world that's considered the driving force, while the experience of joy and suffering is rooted in the individual's consciousness, or spirit.

13.22

पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् | कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ||१३-२२||

puruṣaḥ prakṛtistho hi bhuṅkte prakṛtijānguṇān . kāraṇaṃ guṇasaṅgo.asya sadasadyonijanmasu ||13-22||

The person embedded in nature experiences the qualities that arise from it, and their attachment to these qualities is what leads to their birth in either favorable or unfavorable circumstances.

13.23

उपद्रष्टानुमन्ता च भर्ता भोक्ता महेश्वरः | परमात्मेति चाप्युक्तो देहेऽस्मिन्पुरुषः परः ||१३-२३||

upadraṣṭānumantā ca bhartā bhoktā maheśvaraḥ . paramātmeti cāpyukto dehe.asminpuruṣaḥ paraḥ ||13-23||

In this body, the Supreme Being is the one who observes, approves, sustains, and experiences all things, and is also known as the great Lord and the ultimate Self.

13.24

य एवं वेत्ति पुरुषं प्रकृतिं च गुणैः सह | सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि न स भूयोऽभिजायते ||१३-२४||

ya evaṃ vetti puruṣaṃ prakṛtiṃ ca guṇaiḥ saha . sarvathā vartamāno.api na sa bhūyo.abhijāyate ||13-24||

When someone truly understands the relationship between the individual and the natural world, including the qualities that shape them, they're not bound to another cycle of birth, regardless of their circumstances in life.

13.25

ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना | अन्ये साङ्ख्येन योगेन कर्मयोगेन चापरे ||१३-२५||

dhyānenātmani paśyanti kecidātmānamātmanā . anye sāṅkhyena yogena karmayogena cāpare ||13-25||

Some people discover their true nature by looking inward through meditation, while others gain this understanding through the path of knowledge or through selfless action.

13.26

अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्तः श्रुत्वान्येभ्य उपासते | तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणाः ||१३-२६||

anye tvevamajānantaḥ śrutvānyebhya upāsate . te.api cātitarantyeva mṛtyuṃ śrutiparāyaṇāḥ ||13-26||

Some people, without a deep understanding, worship after hearing about it from others, and they also overcome death by dedicating themselves to the wisdom they've received.

13.27

यावत्सञ्जायते किञ्चित्सत्त्वं स्थावरजङ्गमम् | क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगात्तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ ||१३-२७||

yāvatsañjāyate kiñcitsattvaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam . kṣetrakṣetrajñasaṃyogāttadviddhi bharatarṣabha ||13-27||

Any living being that comes into existence, whether it's a stationary object or a moving creature, arises from the interaction between the physical world and the conscious self, as Krishna explains to Arjuna. This union is the source of all life, and it's essential to understand this fundamental principle. Every aspect of creation, from the smallest particle to the mightiest being, is born from this harmony between the material and spiritual realms.

13.28

समं सर्वेषु भूतेषु तिष्ठन्तं परमेश्वरम् | विनश्यत्स्वविनश्यन्तं यः पश्यति स पश्यति ||१३-२८||

samaṃ sarveṣu bhūteṣu tiṣṭhantaṃ parameśvaram . vinaśyatsvavinaśyantaṃ yaḥ paśyati sa paśyati ||13-28||

The one who truly sees is the person who recognizes the Supreme Lord as being equally present in all living things, remaining unchanged even as everything around them changes and perishes.

13.29

समं पश्यन्हि सर्वत्र समवस्थितमीश्वरम् | न हिनस्त्यात्मनात्मानं ततो याति परां गतिम् ||१३-२९||

samaṃ paśyanhi sarvatra samavasthitamīśvaram . na hinastyātmanātmānaṃ tato yāti parāṃ gatim ||13-29||

When someone sees the same divine presence everywhere, they don't harm their own inner self, and this awareness leads them to the ultimate state of liberation. By recognizing the Lord's equal presence in all things, they avoid self-destructive tendencies and instead move toward the highest spiritual attainment. This understanding allows them to transcend and reach the deepest level of fulfillment.

13.30

प्रकृत्यैव च कर्माणि क्रियमाणानि सर्वशः | यः पश्यति तथात्मानमकर्तारं स पश्यति ||१३-३०||

prakṛtyaiva ca karmāṇi kriyamāṇāni sarvaśaḥ . yaḥ paśyati tathātmānamakartāraṃ sa paśyati ||13-30||

When we see that everything is driven by nature and that the true self doesn't actually do anything, then we have real understanding. This perspective reveals that our actions are part of a larger natural process, and the self remains untouched by it all.

13.31

यदा भूतपृथग्भावमेकस्थमनुपश्यति | तत एव च विस्तारं ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा ||१३-३१||

yadā bhūtapṛthagbhāvamekasthamanupaśyati . tata eva ca vistāraṃ brahma sampadyate tadā ||13-31||

When someone sees all different beings as ultimately one and understands that they all arise from the same source, they realize their true nature as Brahman. At that moment, they experience the ultimate reality. This understanding brings a profound connection to the divine.

13.32

अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः | शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ||१३-३२||

anāditvānnirguṇatvātparamātmāyamavyayaḥ . śarīrastho.api kaunteya na karoti na lipyate ||13-32||

The supreme atman, Arjuna, is timeless, beyond all qualities, and unchanging, and even though it resides within the body, it doesn't engage in actions or get entangled in their consequences.

13.33

यथा सर्वगतं सौक्ष्म्यादाकाशं नोपलिप्यते | सर्वत्रावस्थितो देहे तथात्मा नोपलिप्यते ||१३-३३||

yathā sarvagataṃ saukṣmyādākāśaṃ nopalipyate . sarvatrāvasthito dehe tathātmā nopalipyate ||13-33||

Just as the all-pervading air remains untouched because it's so fine, the Self that's present throughout the body remains untainted, its purity intact.

13.34

यथा प्रकाशयत्येकः कृत्स्नं लोकमिमं रविः | क्षेत्रं क्षेत्री तथा कृत्स्नं प्रकाशयति भारत ||१३-३४||

yathā prakāśayatyekaḥ kṛtsnaṃ lokamimaṃ raviḥ . kṣetraṃ kṣetrī tathā kṛtsnaṃ prakāśayati bhārata ||13-34||

Just as a single sun lights up the entire world, the Supreme Self illuminates everything, Bharata, bringing light to all of existence.

13.35

क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोरेवमन्तरं ज्ञानचक्षुषा | भूतप्रकृतिमोक्षं च ये विदुर्यान्ति ते परम् ||१३-३५||

kṣetrakṣetrajñayorevamantaraṃ jñānacakṣuṣā . bhūtaprakṛtimokṣaṃ ca ye viduryānti te param ||13-35||

Those who can see the difference between the physical world and the one who experiences it, and who also understand how to free themselves from the cycle of nature, attain the ultimate reality. They gain this insight through the lens of spiritual awareness, which allows them to perceive the path to liberation. This understanding guides them to the highest state of being.