Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 15

Chapter 13 – Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम् ।
असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च ॥

Transliteration

sarvendriyaguṇābhāsaṃ sarvendriyavivarjitam .
asaktaṃ sarvabhṛccaiva nirguṇaṃ guṇabhoktṛ ca ॥

Meaning

It shines through the functions of all the senses, yet is free from all senses; unattached, yet sustaining all; beyond the gunas, yet the experiencer of the gunas.

Word meanings

सर्वेन्द्रिय – all the senses
गुण – qualities; functions of the senses
आभासम् – shining through, appearing as
विवर्जितम् – devoid of
असक्तम् – unattached, unconnected
सर्वभृत् – supporter of all
च – and
एव – indeed
निर्गुणम् – free from the gunas
गुणभोक्तृ – experiencer of the gunas

Anvaya (word order)

(तत्) सर्व-इन्द्रिय-गुण-आभासम्, सर्व-इन्द्रिय-विवर्जितम्, असक्तम् च एव सर्वभृत्, निर्गुणम् च गुण-भोक्तृ ।

Explanation

This verse speaks of Brahman in the language of paradox, and the paradoxes themselves reveal its mystery. The qualities ascribed in the previous verse are here negated even as they are affirmed. The opening words repeat a mantra of the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (3.17).

Sarvendriya-gunabhasa: the seeing and hearing performed by the senses take place by the light of that consciousness, so it seems to shine in their functions. Yet it is sarvendriya-vivarjita, without any senses of its own — as all work is done in sunlight while the sun itself does no work. Shankara adds that it is asakta, related to nothing, and yet the support of all, since nothing could exist apart from existence itself. It is nirguna, beyond sattva, rajas and tamas, and yet through its adjuncts it appears as the enjoyer of the pleasure and pain the gunas produce.

Ramanuja applies the verse to the pure self: by nature free from senses and gunas, it becomes, through karma and association with matter, the knower and enjoyer by means of the senses. Devotional readers see here the Lord who sustains everything while remaining unattached, as stated in 9.4–9.5.

The contradictions resolve once we see that one truth is being viewed from two standpoints — that of everyday experience and that of ultimate reality.

Context

Verse 13.14 described Brahman's all-pervasiveness; here the senses ascribed to it are negated, revealing its detachment and freedom from qualities. The next verse (13.16) describes it as within and without, moving and unmoving, far and near.

Life lesson

By recognising the witness within, we too can act fully in the world while remaining inwardly unattached. Carry life's responsibilities, but do not be bound by them.

Key terms

सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभास: shining through the functions of all the senses
निर्गुण (nirguna): beyond the three gunas
गुणभोक्तृ: experiencer of the gunas through adjuncts
सर्वभृत्: the sustainer of all