Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 13 · Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 13.13 ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि
श्लोक 13.13
ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते ।
अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म न सत्तन्नासदुच्यते ॥
jñeyaṃ yattatpravakṣyāmi yajjñātvāmṛtamaśnute |
anādimatparaṃ brahma na sattannāsaducyate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
अब मैं वह बताऊँगा जो जानने योग्य है, जिसे जानकर मनुष्य अमरत्व पाता है — वह अनादि परम ब्रह्म, जिसे न सत् कहा जाता है न असत्।
Meaning in English
I shall now describe that which is to be known, by knowing which one attains immortality: the beginningless supreme Brahman, which is said to be neither being nor non-being.
Bhagavad Gita 13.13 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ज्ञेयम् | jñeyam | that which is to be known |
| यत् | yat | which |
| तत् | tat | that |
| प्रवक्ष्यामि | pravakṣyāmi | I shall declare |
| यत् ज्ञात्वा | yat jñātvā | knowing which |
| अमृतम् | amṛtam | immortality |
| अश्नुते | aśnute | one attains |
| अनादिमत् | anādimat | beginningless |
| परम् | param | supreme |
| ब्रह्म | brahma | Brahman |
| न सत् तत् | na sat tat | it is not called being |
| न असत् | na asat | nor non-being |
| उच्यते | ucyate | it is said |
Explanation
Krishna says: I will now describe what is to be known, by knowing which one attains immortality. It is the beginningless supreme Brahman, which is said to be neither being nor non-being. It cannot be described by ordinary categories, because it is the ground of all of them.
Brahman is beyond the ordinary categories of existent and non-existent, which apply only to objects. Shankara explains that words describe things through class, quality, action or relation, and Brahman has none of these, so neither sat nor asat fits. The compound is also read differently: Shankara divides it as anadimat param, beginningless and supreme, while Ramanuja divides it as anadi mat-param, beginningless and having me as its highest, taking it to refer to the individual self that depends on the Lord.
भावार्थ
जो जानने योग्य है, उसे मैं कहूँगा, जिसे जानकर मनुष्य अमृतत्व को प्राप्त होता है। वह अनादि परम ब्रह्म न सत् कहा जाता है, न असत्। उसे साधारण शब्दों में नहीं बाँधा जा सकता।
Living it today
Some truths sit beyond neat labels. Allow room for mystery, and do not mistake your words about the sacred for the sacred itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 13.13?
Krishna says: I will now describe what is to be known, by knowing which one attains immortality. It is the beginningless supreme Brahman, which is said to be neither being nor non-being. It cannot be described by ordinary categories, because it is the ground of all of them.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 13.13?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 13 (Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 13.13 in daily life?
Some truths sit beyond neat labels. Allow room for mystery, and do not mistake your words about the sacred for the sacred itself.
Reflected on verse 13.13?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.