📘 Chapter 13: Kshetra-Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (The Field and the Knower)
In these concluding verses, Krishna shows us how understanding the self (Purusha) beyond the body (Kshetra) can lead to liberation from the cycles of karma, birth, and suffering.
🌀 Shlokas 21–34: Seeing Through the Illusion — Reaching the Real
🕉️ Shloka 21
Sanskrit:
कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे हेतु: प्रकृतिरुच्यते |
पुरुष: सुखदु:खानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते ॥13.21॥
Translation (English):
Nature (Prakriti) is said to be the cause of all action and its instruments. The soul (Purusha) is said to be the experiencer of pleasure and pain.
Translation (Hindi):
कर्म और कारण (उपकरणों) की कर्तृत्व शक्ति प्रकृति है, और सुख-दुःख का भोक्ता पुरुष कहा गया है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Everything you do arises from Nature. But who experiences it all — that’s the soul. This is the great cosmic partnership.
🪔 Modern Insight:
You're not the actor — you're the witness. Understanding this frees you from being trapped in every emotional wave.
🕉️ Shloka 22
Sanskrit:
पुरुष: प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् |
कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ॥13.22॥
Translation (English):
When the soul resides in Nature, it experiences the qualities born of Nature. Attachment to these qualities causes birth in good and evil wombs.
Translation (Hindi):
जब पुरुष प्रकृति में स्थित होता है, तो वह प्रकृति से उत्पन्न गुणों को भोगता है। गुणों के साथ संयोग ही जन्म के कारण बनते हैं — चाहे वह शुभ हो या अशुभ।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Bondage comes not from action but from **attachment to qualities**. That attachment determines where we return after death.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Your next “birth” in life isn’t always literal — it could be your next moment, shaped by what you cling to now.
🕉️ Shloka 23
Sanskrit:
उपद्रष्टानुमन्ता च भर्ता भोक्ता महेश्वर: |
परमात्मेति चाप्युक्तो देहेऽस्मिन्पुरुष: पर: ॥13.23॥
Translation (English):
There is yet another — the Supreme Soul — who exists in this body as the witness, the permitter, the sustainer, the experiencer, and the Lord. This is the Supreme Being.
Translation (Hindi):
इस शरीर में एक और परम पुरुष है — जो उपद्रष्टा, अनुमंता, धारक, भोक्ता और परमेश्वर है; उसे परमात्मा कहा गया है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Within you resides not just the individual self, but the **Supreme Self** — always witnessing, always present.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Behind the voice in your head is the quiet observer. That silent presence — that’s the Divine in you.
🕉️ Shloka 24
Sanskrit:
य एवं वेत्ति पुरुषं प्रकृतिं च गुणै: सह |
सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि न स भूयोऽभिजायते ॥13.24॥
Translation (English):
One who knows the soul and Nature with its qualities — even while living in this world — is not born again.
Translation (Hindi):
जो पुरुष प्रकृति और गुणों के साथ पुरुष को जान लेता है, वह किसी भी अवस्था में स्थित हो — फिर जन्म नहीं लेता।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Freedom doesn’t require escape — it requires insight. The one who *sees* clearly is already free.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Real awakening isn’t about changing the world — it’s about changing how you see your place in it.
🕉️ Shlokas 25–26
Sanskrit:
ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना |
अन्ये सांख्येन योगेन कर्मयोगेन चापरे ॥13.25॥
अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्त: श्रुत्वान्येभ्य उपासते |
तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणाः ॥13.26॥
Translation (English):
Some perceive the Self in the Self by meditation, others through Sankhya (knowledge), and others by Karma Yoga (action).
Still others, not knowing this, hear from others and worship — they too, devoted to hearing, transcend death.
Translation (Hindi):
कुछ लोग आत्मा को ध्यान द्वारा आत्मा में देखते हैं; कुछ ज्ञानयोग से, और कुछ कर्मयोग से।
और जो नहीं जानते, वे दूसरों से सुनकर उपासना करते हैं — वे भी मृत्यु को पार कर जाते हैं, यदि वे श्रवण में निष्ठावान हों।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Many paths, one truth. Whether by wisdom, work, or worship — sincere seekers find liberation.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Don’t worry if you’re not “advanced.” If your heart is honest and open, you’re already walking the path.
🕉️ Shloka 27
Sanskrit:
यावत्सञ्जायते किञ्चित्सत्त्वं स्थावरजङ्गमम् |
क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगात्तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ ॥13.27॥
Translation (English):
Wherever any living being is born — moving or unmoving — know it arises from the union of the Field and the Knower, O best of the Bharatas.
Translation (Hindi):
हे भरतश्रेष्ठ! जो भी जीव, स्थावर या जंगम, उत्पन्न होता है — उसे क्षेत्र और क्षेत्रज्ञ के संयोग से उत्पन्न जानो।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Every life form — from ants to humans — is a combination of matter and consciousness. Everything is sacred.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Don’t see others as objects. See them as souls wearing forms — just like you.
🕉️ Shloka 28
Sanskrit:
समं सर्वेषु भूतेषु तिष्ठन्तं परमेश्वरम् |
विनश्यत्स्वविनश्यन्तं य: पश्यति स पश्यति ॥13.28॥
Translation (English):
He who sees the Supreme Lord abiding equally in all beings — the imperishable within the perishable — truly sees.
Translation (Hindi):
जो व्यक्ति सभी प्राणियों में सम भाव से स्थित परमेश्वर को देखता है, जो नाशवान शरीरों में भी अविनाशी है — वही वास्तव में देखता है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
To “see” spiritually is not to look with eyes — it is to recognize the eternal within the fleeting.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Your true vision begins when you stop judging by appearances and start seeing essence.
🕉️ Shlokas 29–30
Sanskrit:
समं पश्यन्हि सर्वत्र समवस्थितमीश्वरम् |
न हिनस्त्यात्मनात्मानं ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥13.29॥
प्रकृत्यैव च कर्माणि क्रियमाणानि सर्वश: |
य: पश्यति तथात्मानमकर्तारं स पश्यति ॥13.30॥
Translation (English):
Seeing the same Lord everywhere, one does not harm oneself or others — and thus reaches the highest path.
One who sees that all actions are done by Nature alone, and not by the Self, truly sees.
Translation (Hindi):
जो सबमें स्थित ईश्वर को समान रूप से देखता है, वह आत्मा से आत्मा को नहीं दुखाता — और परम गति को प्राप्त होता है।
जो यह जानता है कि सभी कर्म केवल प्रकृति द्वारा किए जाते हैं, और आत्मा अकर्ता है — वही यथार्थ में देखता है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
True vision leads to compassion and detachment. You no longer act from ego, but from clarity.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Don’t take everything personally — you are not the doer. That’s how you drop guilt, fear, and pride.
🕉️ Shlokas 31–34
Sanskrit:
यदा भूतपृथग्भावमेकस्थमनुपश्यति |
तत एव च विस्तारं ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा ॥13.31॥
अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्यय: |
शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ॥13.32॥
यथा सर्वगतं सौक्ष्म्यादाकाशं नोपलिप्यते |
सर्वत्रावस्थितो देहे तथात्मा नोपलिप्यते ॥13.33॥
यथा प्रकाशयत्येक: कृत्स्नं लोकमिमं रवि: |
क्षेत्रं क्षेत्री तथा कृत्स्नं प्रकाशयति भारत ॥13.34॥
Translation (English):
When one perceives that all diverse beings rest in the One, and that all expansion comes from That — then one attains Brahman.
Because it is beginningless and without qualities, the Supreme Self is unchanging and untainted, though dwelling in the body.
Just as the sky, due to its subtlety, is not tainted — so too, the Self is untainted though present in all bodies.
As the sun lights up the whole world, so does the Knower of the Field illuminate the entire body, O Bharata.
Translation (Hindi):
जब कोई यह देखता है कि सभी भिन्न-भिन्न प्राणी एक ही स्थान में स्थित हैं, और उसी से विस्तार हुआ है — तब वह ब्रह्म को प्राप्त होता है।
अनादि, निर्गुण और अविनाशी होने के कारण, शरीर में स्थित होकर भी आत्मा कुछ नहीं करता और उससे लिप्त नहीं होता।
जैसे आकाश अपनी सूक्ष्मता के कारण किसी वस्तु से लिप्त नहीं होता, वैसे ही आत्मा भी शरीर में रहकर लिप्त नहीं होता।
जैसे सूर्य सम्पूर्ण जगत को प्रकाश देता है, वैसे ही क्षेत्रज्ञ सम्पूर्ण शरीर को प्रकाशमान करता है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
When you truly understand who you are — untouched, unbound, luminous — you return home to freedom.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Your body is temporary, your story is temporary — but your **light** is eternal. Live from that place.
📜 Ancient Verse – Modern Wisdom
| Bhagavad Gita Verse | Modern-Day Relevance |
|---|---|
| 13.23 – “Supreme Self within” | The Divine is within you — not far, not foreign. |
| 13.30 – “Nature acts, not you” | Let go of over-identifying with action. Be the calm witness. |
| 13.34 – “Like the sun, you shine” | Your awareness is what lights up your entire life. Honor it. |
🧘 Message to Gen Z
- 🧠 You are not just mind, body, or identity — you're awareness itself.
- 🌞 Like the sun, your consciousness lights up every thought and experience.
- 🧘 Be still. Witness. Detach. You’re not here to suffer — you’re here to awaken.
- 🎭 Action is a role — you’re the actor, not the act.
- 🌌 When you know your true self, fear and confusion melt away.
Would you like to begin 📘 Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga – The Three Modes of Nature next?