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Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 13 | Verse 4

Chapter 13, Verse 4

Nature, the Enjoyer, and Consciousness

Now please hear My brief description of this field of activity and how it is constituted, what its changes are, whence it is produced, who that knower of the field of activities is, and what his influences are.

Verse

तत्क्षेत्रं यच्च यादृक् च यद्विकारि यतश्च यत्।स च यो यत्प्रभावश्च तत्समासेन मे श्रृणु।।13.4।।


tat kṣhetraṁ yach cha yādṛik cha yad-vikāri yataśh cha yat
sa cha yo yat-prabhāvaśh cha tat samāsena me śhṛiṇu

Meaning of each word

tat — that;
kṣhetram — field of activities;
yat — what;
cha — and;
yādṛik — its nature;
cha — and;
yat-vikāri — how change takes place in it;
yataḥ — from what;
cha — also;
yat — what;
saḥ — he;
cha — also;
yaḥ — who;
yat-prabhāvaḥ — what his powers are;
cha — and;
tat — that;
samāsena — in summary;
me — from me;
śhṛiṇu — listen

Interpretation

In this verse, the Lord is giving an overview of two important concepts: the 'field of activities' and the 'knower of the field.' The 'field' refers to our bodies and the world around us. It’s like a stage where life unfolds, involving our actions, feelings, experiences, and even changes we go through as we age or face different situations.

When the Lord talks about how this field is constituted, He means the basic stuff that makes up our body and this world. Just like a house is built from bricks, wood, and other materials, our body is formed from various elements, like water, air, and the earth, all intertwined in a complex way.

He also wants us to think about 'who governs its functions.' This is about understanding who is really in charge of our body and actions. It’s not just our muscles or our brain; there is a deeper aspect which is the 'self' or 'soul.'

Then, He brings attention to 'how and why changes occur.' Changes in life are inevitable—like when we move from being children to adults or when we experience happiness, sadness, or sickness. The Lord wants us to understand what causes these changes, like our experiences, thoughts, and how we interact with our surroundings.

The 'knower of the field' refers to ourselves as individuals. We might think of ourselves as our names, jobs, or relationships, but there is something deeper—the soul within us that perceives all these experiences. And the 'Supersoul' refers to a higher divine presence that knows everything and guides all souls but is distinct from our individual experiences.

A key point also mentioned is not to confuse the two. We often underestimate our own importance and might think of the Supersoul as being the same as our personal self. But the Lord points out that while we may carry different roles and identities (like being a son or a friend), there lies something greater that connects and influences us all.

In simpler terms, it’s about recognizing the bigger picture. Who we are, the world we live in, the changes we go through, and the divine guidance we sometimes overlook—all these elements combine to give us a fuller understanding of our existence. The Lord encourages us to deeply explore these ideas in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, as they will help us see our true nature and purpose in life.

Other Verses of Chapter 13
Verse 1
Arjuna said, "I wish to learn about Nature and the Spirit, the field and the knower of the field, knowledge and that which ought to be known, O Kesava."
Verse 2
The Blessed Lord said, "O Arjuna, this body is called the field; he who knows it is called the knower of the field by those who know them."
Verse 3
O scion of Bharat, you should understand that I am also the knower in all bodies, and to understand this body and its owner is called knowledge. That is My opinion.
Verse 5
That knowledge of the field of activities and of the knower of activities is described by various sages in various Vedic writings-especially in the Vedanta-sutra-and is presented with all reasoning as to cause and effect.
Verse 6
The great elements, egoism, intellect, and also the Unmanifested Nature, the ten senses, and one mind, and the five objects of the senses.
Verse 7
Desire, hatred, pleasure, pain, the body, intelligence, and willpower—these things have been briefly described as aspects of the field of our activities.
Verse 8
Humility, unpretentiousness, non-injury, forgiveness, uprightness, service to the teacher, purity, steadfastness, and self-control.
Verse 9
Indifference to the objects of the senses and also absence of egoism; perceiving the evil in birth, death, old age, sickness, and pain.
Verse 10
Non-attachment, non-identification of the Self with son, wife, home, and the rest, and constant even-mindedness in the face of the attainment of both desirable and undesirable.
Verse 11
Unswerving devotion to Me through the Yoga of non-separation, resorting to solitary places, and a distaste for the company of people.
Verse 12
Constancy in Self-knowledge, the perception of the end of true knowledge—this is declared to be knowledge, and what is opposed to it is ignorance.
Verse 13
I shall now explain the knowable, knowing which you will taste the eternal. This is beginningless, and it is subordinate to Me. It is called Brahman, the spirit, and it lies beyond the cause and effect of this material world.
Verse 14
Everywhere are His hands and legs, His eyes and faces, and He hears everything. In this way the Supersoul exists.
Verse 15
The Supersoul is the original source of all senses, yet He is without senses. He is unattached, although He is the maintainer of all living beings. He transcends the modes of nature, and at the same time He is the master of all modes of material nature.
Verse 16
The Supreme Truth exists both internally and externally, in the moving and nonmoving. He is beyond the power of the material senses to see or to know. Although far, far away, He is also near to all.
Verse 17
Although the Supersoul appears to be divided, He is never divided. He is situated as one. Although He is the maintainer of every living entity, it is to be understood that He devours and develops all.
Verse 18
He is the source of light in all luminous objects. He is beyond the darkness of matter and is unmanifested. He is knowledge, He is the object of knowledge, and He is the goal of knowledge. He is situated in everyone's heart.
Verse 19
Thus the field of activities [the body], knowledge, and the knowable have been summarily described by Me. Only My devotees can understand this thoroughly and thus attain to My nature.
Verse 20
Material nature and the living entities should be understood to be beginningless. Their transformations and the modes of matter are products of material nature.
Verse 21
Nature is said to be the cause of all material activities and effects, whereas the living entity is the cause of the various sufferings and enjoyments in this world.
Verse 22
The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and evil amongst various species.
Verse 23
Yet in this body there is another, a transcendental enjoyer who is the Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists as the overseer and permitter, and who is known as the Supersoul.
Verse 24
One who understands this philosophy concerning material nature, the living entity and the interaction of the modes of nature is sure to attain liberation. He will not take birth here again, regardless of his present position.
Verse 25
That Supersoul is perceived by some through meditation, by some through the cultivation of knowledge, and by others through working without fruitive desire.
Verse 26
Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death.
Verse 27
O chief of the Bharatas, whatever you see in existence, both moving and unmoving, is only the combination of the field of activities and the knower of the field.
Verse 28
One who sees the Supersoul accompanying the individual soul in all bodies and who understands that neither the soul nor the Supersoul is ever destroyed, actually sees.
Verse 29
One who sees the Supersoul in every living being and equal everywhere does not degrade himself by his mind. Thus he approaches the transcendental destination.
Verse 30
One who can see that all activities are performed by the body, which is created of material nature, and sees that the self does nothing, actually sees.
Verse 31
When a sensible man ceases to see different identities, which are due to different material bodies, he attains to the Brahman conception. Thus he sees that beings are expanded everywhere.
Verse 32
Those with the vision of eternity can see that the soul is transcendental, eternal, and beyond the modes of nature. Despite contact with the material body, O Arjuna, the soul neither does anything nor is entangled.
Verse 33
The sky, due to its subtle nature, does not mix with anything, although it is all-pervading. Similarly, the soul, situated in Brahman vision, does not mix with the body, though situated in that body.
Verse 34
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 35
One who knowingly sees this difference between the body and the owner of the body and can understand the process of liberation from this bondage, also attains to the supreme goal.
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