Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 27

Chapter 13 – Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यावत्सञ्जायते किञ्चित्सत्त्वं स्थावरजङ्गमम् ।
क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगात्तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ ॥

Transliteration

yāvatsañjāyate kiñcitsattvaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam .
kṣetrakṣetrajñasaṃyogāttadviddhi bharatarṣabha ॥

Meaning

O best of the Bharatas, whatever being comes into existence, whether unmoving or moving, know that it arises from the union of the field and the knower of the field.

Word meanings

यावत् – whatever
सञ्जायते – is born, comes into being
किञ्चित् – anything
सत्त्वम् – being, entity
स्थावर – unmoving, such as trees and plants
जङ्गमम् – moving, such as humans and animals
क्षेत्र – the field, body, matter
क्षेत्रज्ञ – the knower of the field, the self
संयोगात् – from the union
तत् – that
विद्धि – know
भरतर्षभ – O best of the Bharatas (Arjuna)

Anvaya (word order)

भरतर्षभ, यावत् किञ्चित् स्थावरजङ्गमम् सत्त्वम् सञ्जायते, तत् क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगात् विद्धि ।

Explanation

Here Krishna states a universal law of creation: everything that lives, whether an unmoving tree or a moving human or animal, exists through the union of kshetra and kshetrajna, inert nature and the conscious self. Matter alone does not produce life, and consciousness alone does not appear as an embodied creature. Only when the two meet does a living being arise.

But what kind of union is this? The Self is unattached; it cannot truly cling to matter. Shankara explains that this union is not a real joining but adhyasa, superimposition, like mistaking a rope for a snake or mother-of-pearl for silver. Through failure to discern the nature of the field and its knower, each is superimposed on the other, and this superimposition is the cause of birth. Ramanuja regards the union as real: through beginningless karma the soul is related to matter, and the Lord governs that relation by his will. Madhva likewise sees it as a real union brought about by the will of the Lord.

In 7.6 Krishna said that his higher and lower natures together are the womb of all beings. In 14.3–4 he goes further: the great Brahman, primal nature, is his womb, and into it he places the seed. So in every living being both of the Lord's powers are joined.

The verse also teaches that every creature, however small or ordinary it may seem, carries a spark of consciousness. This prepares the way for 13.28, where the one who sees the Supreme Lord dwelling equally in all beings is called the true seer.

Context

Krishna addresses Arjuna as Bharatarshabha, best of the Bharatas. Verse 13.26 spoke of those who are saved by worshipping with faith in what they have heard. This verse explains that all beings arise from the union of field and knower, and 13.28 speaks of seeing the imperishable Lord in all perishing beings.

Life lesson

Every living being, tree, animal or human, carries consciousness along with its body. Knowing this, we can treat every creature with respect and compassion. Within ourselves too, we may remember that the consciousness joined to the body is our true nature.

Key terms

Kshetra-kshetrajna-samyoga: the union of matter and the conscious self
Sthavara-jangama: the unmoving and the moving; all of life
Adhyasa: superimposition, mistaking one thing for another
Bharatarshabha: best of the Bharatas, an epithet of Arjuna