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Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 13 | Verse 34

Chapter 13, Verse 34

Nature, the Enjoyer, and Consciousness

O son of Bharata, as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness.


Verse

यथा प्रकाशयत्येकः कृत्स्नं लोकमिमं रविः।क्षेत्रं क्षेत्री तथा कृत्स्नं प्रकाशयति भारत।।13.34।।


yathā prakāśhayaty ekaḥ kṛitsnaṁ lokam imaṁ raviḥ
kṣhetraṁ kṣhetrī tathā kṛitsnaṁ prakāśhayati bhārata

Meaning of each word

yathā — as;
prakāśhayati —
illumines;
ekaḥ —
one;
kṛitsnam —
entire;
lokam —
solar system;
imam —
this;
raviḥ —
sun;
kṣhetram —
the body;
kṣhetrī —
the soul;
tathā —
so;
kṛitsnam —
entire;
prakāśhayati —
illumine;
bhārata —
Arjun, the son of Bharat

Interpretation

In this verse, there is a comparison being made between the sun and our soul. Think about how the sun works: even though it is far away in the sky, it casts light everywhere on Earth. No matter where you are, if there is sunlight, you can see things clearly. The sun brings warmth and visibility to our world. Now, let’s relate that to ourselves.

Just like the sun lights up everything outside, there is something within us called the 'soul' or 'consciousness' that brings awareness and life to our body. This soul is like the 'light' of our body. For instance, when you feel joy, sadness, or any emotion at all, that awareness is coming from the soul. It is what makes you aware of yourself and your surroundings.

The soul is located in our heart, much like how the sun stays in one place in the sky, but it has the ability to make the whole body feel alive and aware. Without this soul, you would not be aware of anything – your experiences, thoughts, and feelings would not exist.

So, the verse tells us that just as the sun shows us everything in the universe by its light, the soul brings consciousness and life to our body. This consciousness shows that our soul is present. If there was no soul, there would be no awareness, just like if the sun weren’t shining, everything would be dark and you wouldn’t be able to see.

In simpler terms, think about walking into a dark room; you can’t see anything. But when you turn on the light, everything becomes clear. The soul works in a similar way for our body – it turns on the 'light' of awareness and allows us to experience life fully. Therefore, consciousness is evidence of the soul’s presence, just like sunlight shows that the sun is there.


Other Verses of Chapter 13
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