Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13: Ksetra Ksetrajna Vibhaaga Yoga

(Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field)

35 verses · Jnana Yoga

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.

भगवद गीता का तेरवाह अध्याय क्षेत्र-क्षेत्रज्ञविभागयोग है। क्षेत्र शब्द का मतलब भूमि और क्षेत्ररक्षण का मतलब क्षेत्र का जानकार है। हमारा भौतिक शरीर क्षेत्र के सामान है और हमारी अमर आत्मा क्षेत्र के जानकार के सामान है। इस अध्याय में, कृष्ण भौतिक शरीर और अमर आत्मा के बीच भेद करते हैं। वह बताते हैं कि भौतिक शरीर अस्थायी और विनाशकारी है जबकि आत्मा स्थायी और शाश्वत है। भौतिक शरीर नष्ट हो सकता है लेकिन आत्मा कभी भी नष्ट नहीं हो सकती। यह अध्याय फिर भगवान का वर्णन करता है, जो की सर्वोच्च आत्मा हैं। सभी व्यक्तिगत आत्माएं सर्वोच्च आत्मा से उत्पन्न हुई हैं। जो स्पष्ट रूप से शरीर, आत्मा और सर्वोच्च आत्मा के बीच अंतर को समझ लेता है वह परमात्मा को प्राप्त कर लेता है।

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13: Ksetra Ksetrajna Vibhaaga Yoga – Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field

Themes in this chapter

  • Body as the field
  • The knower of the field
  • Prakriti and purusha

Important teachings

  • The body and its conditions are called the field; the conscious knower is distinct from them.
  • Knowledge is described through qualities such as humility, non-violence, and steadiness.
  • Seeing the same knower in all beings is presented as liberating understanding.

All verses in Chapter 13

Chapter questions

What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 about?

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.

How many verses are in Chapter 13?

Chapter 13, Ksetra Ksetrajna Vibhaaga Yoga, contains 35 verses.