Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 13 · Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 13.2 इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते
श्लोक 13.2
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते ।
एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः ॥
śrībhagavānuvāca |
idaṃ śarīraṃ kaunteya kṣetramityabhidhīyate |
etadyo vetti taṃ prāhuḥ kṣetrajña iti tadvidaḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
श्रीभगवान ने कहा: हे कौन्तेय (कुंती पुत्र अर्जुन), यह शरीर 'क्षेत्र' कहलाता है। जो इसे जानता है, उसे इस विषय के ज्ञानी 'क्षेत्रज्ञ' कहते हैं।
Meaning in English
The Blessed Lord said: O Kaunteya (Arjuna, son of Kunti), this body is called the 'field'. One who knows it is called the 'knower of the field' by those who understand these truths.
Bhagavad Gita 13.2 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| इदम् | idam | this |
| शरीरम् | śarīram | body |
| कौन्तेय | kaunteya | O son of Kunti |
| क्षेत्रम् | kṣetram | the field |
| इति | iti | thus |
| अभिधीयते | abhidhīyate | is called |
| एतत् | etat | this |
| यः वेत्ति | yaḥ vetti | one who knows |
| तम् | tam | that one |
| प्राहुः | prāhuḥ | they call |
| क्षेत्रज्ञः | kṣetrajñaḥ | the knower of the field |
| इति | iti | thus |
| तद्विदः | tadvidaḥ | those who know this truth |
Explanation
Krishna answers: this body is called the field, and the one who knows it is called the knower of the field by those who understand such matters. The body is something known; the self is the one who knows it, and so cannot be the same as it.
A field is where seeds are sown and harvests reaped, and the body is where actions are done and their results experienced. Shankara stresses that whatever is an object of knowing belongs to the field, so the knower must be distinct from it. Ramanuja reads the field as the body that serves the individual self, which in turn depends on the Lord. Gandhi liked the image of the body as a field in which one either sows good or lets weeds grow.
भावार्थ
हे कौन्तेय! यह शरीर क्षेत्र कहलाता है, और जो इसे जानता है, उसे तत्त्व जानने वाले क्षेत्रज्ञ कहते हैं। अर्थात् शरीर जानने की वस्तु है और उसे जानने वाला आत्मा उससे भिन्न है।
Living it today
You can notice your tiredness, hunger or pain. That noticing is a reminder that you are more than the body you look after.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 13.2?
Krishna answers: this body is called the field, and the one who knows it is called the knower of the field by those who understand such matters. The body is something known; the self is the one who knows it, and so cannot be the same as it.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 13.2?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 13 (Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 13.2 in daily life?
You can notice your tiredness, hunger or pain. That noticing is a reminder that you are more than the body you look after.
Reflected on verse 13.2?
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