Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 13 · Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 13.3 क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु
श्लोक 13.3
क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत ।
क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम ॥
kṣetrajñaṃ cāpi māṃ viddhi sarvakṣetreṣu bhārata |
kṣetrakṣetrajñayorjñānaṃ yattajjñānaṃ mataṃ mama ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे भारत (अर्जुन), सब क्षेत्रों में क्षेत्रज्ञ भी मुझे ही जानो। क्षेत्र और क्षेत्रज्ञ का जो ज्ञान है, वही मेरे मत में सच्चा ज्ञान है।
Meaning in English
Know Me also to be the knower of the field in all fields, O Bharata (Arjuna, descendant of Bharata). The knowledge of the field and its knower — that, in My view, is true knowledge.
Bhagavad Gita 13.3 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| क्षेत्रज्ञम् | kṣetrajñam | the knower of the field |
| च अपि | ca api | and also |
| माम् | mām | me |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know |
| सर्वक्षेत्रेषु | sarva-kṣetreṣu | in all fields |
| भारत | bhārata | O Bharata |
| क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोः | kṣetra-kṣetrajñayoḥ | of the field and its knower |
| ज्ञानम् | jñānam | knowledge |
| यत् | yat | which |
| तत् | tat | that |
| ज्ञानम् | jñānam | knowledge |
| मतम् | matam | is considered |
| मम | mama | by me |
Explanation
Krishna says: know me also as the knower of the field in all fields. The knowledge of the field and of its knower, he declares, is what he regards as true knowledge. In other words, the same divine knower is present behind every individual life.
This is one of the key verses where the schools part ways. Shankara reads it as identity: the knower in every body is in truth the one Lord, and seeing this is liberating knowledge. Ramanuja reads it as the Lord being the inner self (antaryamin) of every individual knower, just as the self is the inner self of the body, without the two being identical. Madhva holds that the Lord is the independent knower and controller present in all fields, distinct from the dependent souls. All agree the verse makes discrimination between field and knower the centre of wisdom.
भावार्थ
हे भारत! सब क्षेत्रों में क्षेत्रज्ञ भी तू मुझे ही जान। क्षेत्र और क्षेत्रज्ञ का जो ज्ञान है, वही मेरे मत में वास्तविक ज्ञान है। मैं ही सबके भीतर जानने वाला हूँ।
Living it today
Real education is not only knowing facts about the world but knowing who is doing the knowing. Give that question a few quiet minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 13.3?
Krishna says: know me also as the knower of the field in all fields. The knowledge of the field and of its knower, he declares, is what he regards as true knowledge. In other words, the same divine knower is present behind every individual life.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 13.3?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 13 (Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 13.3 in daily life?
Real education is not only knowing facts about the world but knowing who is doing the knowing. Give that question a few quiet minutes.
Reflected on verse 13.3?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.