📘 Chapter 13: Kshetra-Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (The Field and the Knower)
In these verses, Krishna shifts from defining the 'Field' to describing the 'Knower' — the eternal Self, the Consciousness that sees without attachment and exists beyond body, time, and form.
🧬 Shlokas 11–20: What Is Worth Knowing – The Supreme Reality
🕉️ Shloka 11
Sanskrit:
मयि चानन्ययोगेन भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी |
विविक्तदेशसेवित्वमरतिर्जनसंसदि ॥13.11॥
Translation (English):
Unwavering devotion to Me through undivided yoga, preference for solitary places, and disinterest in crowds and worldly company — these too are aspects of true knowledge.
Translation (Hindi):
मुझमें अनन्य योग द्वारा अविचल भक्ति, एकांत स्थानों में रहना, और जनसमूहों में अरुचि — यह भी ज्ञान कहा गया है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Knowledge is not just intellectual; it’s devotional and intuitive. When you truly know the Self, the noise of the world loses its grip.
🪔 Modern Insight:
True knowing leads to simplicity — less noise, fewer crowds, more stillness. It's not about isolation, but clarity.
🕉️ Shloka 12
Sanskrit:
अध्यानं ज्ञानमात्मज्ञानं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम् |
एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोऽन्यथा ॥13.12॥
Translation (English):
Perception of the goal of true knowledge — that is, realization of the Self — is declared as knowledge. All that is contrary to this is ignorance.
Translation (Hindi):
आत्मज्ञान, तत्त्वज्ञान की प्राप्ति की इच्छा — यही ज्ञान कहा गया है। इसके विपरीत जो कुछ है, वह अज्ञान है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Knowing many things is not the same as knowing the Self. Krishna draws the line: **Real knowledge is that which leads to Truth.**
🪔 Modern Insight:
Don’t confuse data with wisdom. If it doesn’t help you live better or love deeper, it’s just noise.
🕉️ Shloka 13
Sanskrit:
ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वाऽमृतमश्नुते |
अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म न सत्तन्नासदुच्यते ॥13.13॥
Translation (English):
I shall now explain that which is to be known, knowing which one attains immortality: the beginningless Supreme Brahman, which is neither existence nor non-existence.
Translation (Hindi):
अब मैं तुम्हें उस ज्ञेय तत्त्व के विषय में बताऊँगा, जिसे जानकर अमरता प्राप्त होती है — वह अनादि, परम ब्रह्म है, जो न सत है, न असत।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
The Supreme Truth is beyond all opposites — beyond time, name, and form. It is not 'this' or 'that' — it simply *is*.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Truth doesn’t always fit definitions. It often reveals itself when the mind becomes silent and the heart becomes still.
🕉️ Shloka 14
Sanskrit:
सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम् |
सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति ॥13.14॥
Translation (English):
With hands and feet everywhere, eyes, heads, and mouths everywhere, ears everywhere — That (Brahman) exists pervading all things in the universe.
Translation (Hindi):
जिसके हाथ-पाँव, नेत्र, सिर, मुख और कान सब ओर हैं — वह ब्रह्म सम्पूर्ण जगत में व्याप्त है और सबको आच्छादित किए हुए स्थित है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
The Supreme is not somewhere else — it is **everywhere**, in all beings, acting through all forms.
🪔 Modern Insight:
The Divine is not distant — it is here, in every face, in every action. See rightly, and you’ll see God everywhere.
🕉️ Shloka 15
Sanskrit:
सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम् |
असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च ॥13.15॥
Translation (English):
It shines through all sense activities, yet is itself without senses. It is unattached, yet supports everything. It is beyond the gunas (qualities), yet experiences them.
Translation (Hindi):
जो सब इन्द्रियों के गुणों को प्रकाशित करता है, परन्तु स्वयं इन्द्रियों से रहित है; जो आसक्ति रहित है, पर सबको धारण करता है; जो निर्गुण है, पर गुणों का भोक्ता भी है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
This is the paradox of the Self — it is beyond action, yet enables all action. It is silent, yet present in every sound.
🪔 Modern Insight:
You don’t need to do more — you need to become more aware of the doer *behind* all doing.
🕉️ Shloka 16
Sanskrit:
बहिरन्तश्च भूतानामचरं चरमेव च |
सूक्ष्मत्वात्तदविज्ञेयं दूरस्थं चान्तिके च तत् ॥13.16॥
Translation (English):
It is within and without all beings. It moves and yet does not move. It is far, yet near. Because it is subtle, it is unknowable.
Translation (Hindi):
वह सभी प्राणियों के भीतर और बाहर है, वह चलता भी है और नहीं भी। वह दूर भी है और पास भी — क्योंकि वह अत्यंत सूक्ष्म है, इसलिए ज्ञेय नहीं है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
The Divine defies logic — it is here and beyond, manifest and subtle. To “know” it, one must become still, subtle, and receptive.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Don’t look far for peace — it's right here, hidden in plain sight. Silence is the best way to reach what words can’t.
🕉️ Shloka 17
Sanskrit:
अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम् |
भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च ॥13.17॥
Translation (English):
Though undivided, it appears to be divided among beings. That Self is the supporter of all, the devourer, and the origin of all.
Translation (Hindi):
वह अविभाज्य होते हुए भी प्राणियों में विभक्त सा प्रतीत होता है; वह ही सबका धारक, संहारक और उत्पादक है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Though we appear separate, we are expressions of One Reality. That Reality supports, creates, and dissolves everything.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Your individuality is beautiful — but your essence is shared. We are waves of the same ocean.
🕉️ Shloka 18
Sanskrit:
ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते |
ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम् ॥13.18॥
Translation (English):
It is the light of all lights, beyond darkness. It is knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the goal of knowledge. It dwells in the hearts of all beings.
Translation (Hindi):
वह सब प्रकाशों का भी प्रकाश है, अंधकार से परे है। वह ज्ञान है, ज्ञेय है, और ज्ञान द्वारा प्राप्त होने वाला है — वह सभी प्राणियों के हृदय में स्थित है।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
The Divine is the light *behind* all light — it is what makes knowing possible. It lives not in the sky, but in your heart.
🪔 Modern Insight:
The truest wisdom is not outside — it’s already glowing inside your heart. Pause. Listen. Feel.
🕉️ Shloka 19–20
Sanskrit:
इति क्षेत्रं तथा ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं चोक्तं समासतः |
मद्भक्त एतद्विज्ञाय मद्भावायोपपद्यते ॥13.19॥
प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्ध्यानादी उभावपि |
विकारांश्च गुणांश्चैव विद्धि प्रकृतिसम्भवान् ॥13.20॥
Translation (English):
Thus, I have briefly described the Field, knowledge, and what is to be known. My devotee, understanding this, attains My nature.
Know that both Nature and Spirit are beginningless. All transformations and qualities are born of Nature.
Translation (Hindi):
इस प्रकार क्षेत्र, ज्ञान और ज्ञेय को मैंने संक्षेप में बताया। जो मेरा भक्त इसे जान लेता है, वह मेरे स्वरूप को प्राप्त होता है।
प्रकृति और पुरुष — दोनों को अनादि जानो; प्रकृति से ही सभी विकार और गुण उत्पन्न होते हैं।
🔍 Deep Reflection:
This is the shift from intellectual knowing to realization. Understanding the Field and the Knower leads to liberation.
🪔 Modern Insight:
You are not a victim of change — you are the witness of change. Know that, and you're free.
📜 Ancient Verse – Modern Wisdom
| Bhagavad Gita Verse | Modern-Day Relevance |
|---|---|
| 13.12 – “Self-knowledge is knowledge” | Learn about yourself before learning about the world. |
| 13.15 – “It has no senses, yet enables them” | Your consciousness is subtle — it doesn't act, but allows all action. |
| 13.18 – “Dwells in every heart” | You don’t need to go far to find peace — it’s already within. |
🧘 Message to Gen Z
- 🧠 Real wisdom isn't knowing more — it's understanding who you are beyond roles and reactions.
- 🌌 You are not separate — your soul is part of a universal stream of light.
- 🔦 You’re not the body, not even the mind — you're the one *seeing* it all.
- 📿 Spiritual maturity is being steady in a world that constantly changes.
- 🧘 Truth is closer than your breath. Be still. Know the knower.
🔮 Ready to go further into consciousness and freedom?