Chapter 13
Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
Last updated: 14 June 2026
क्षेत्र क्षेत्रज्ञ विभाग योग
Total Shlokas: 35~8 min readSanskrit + Multi-language Meanings
Script:
Shloka 1
अर्जुन उवाच। प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञमेव च। एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं च केशव।।13.1।।
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Arjuna says: I wish to know about Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (the soul), the field and the knower of the field, knowledge and the object of knowledge.
Shloka 2
श्री भगवानुवाच। इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते। एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः।।13.2।।
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Krishna says: This body is called the field (Kshetra), and one who knows it is called the knower of the field (Kshetrajna). Understand this distinction between the body and the conscious entity within it.
Shloka 3
क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत। क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम।।13.3।।
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Know Me as the knower of the field in all fields. Knowledge of both the field and its knower is true knowledge, according to Krishna.
Shloka 4
तत्क्षेत्रं यच्च यादृक्च यद्विकारि यतश्च यत्। स च यो यत्प्रभावश्च तत्समासेन मे शृणु।।13.4।।
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What the field is, what its nature is, what its modifications are, whence it comes, who the knower of the field is, and what his powers are — hear this briefly from Krishna.
Shloka 5
ऋषिभिर्बहुधा गीतं छन्दोभिर्विविधैः पृथक्। ब्रह्मसूत्रपदैश्चैव हेतुमद्भिर्विनिश्चितैः।।13.5।।
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This truth has been sung by sages in various ways, in various Vedic hymns, and also in the well-reasoned and definitive verses of the Brahma Sutras.
Shloka 6
महाभूतान्यहङ्कारो बुद्धिरव्यक्तमेव च। इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च पञ्च चेन्द्रियगोचराः।।13.6।।
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The great elements, ego, intellect, the unmanifest, the ten senses, the mind, and the five sense objects — these constitute the field and its modifications.
Shloka 7
इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं सङ्घातश्चेतना धृतिः। एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन सविकारमुदाहृतम्।।13.7।।
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Desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, the physical body, consciousness, and firmness — this is a brief description of the field along with its modifications.
Shloka 8
अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्। आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः।।13.8।।
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Humility, modesty, non-violence, forbearance, uprightness, service to the teacher, purity, steadfastness, and self-control...
Shloka 9
इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यमनहङ्कार एव च। जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखदोषानुदर्शनम्।।13.9।।
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...detachment from sense objects, absence of ego, perception of the misery of birth, death, old age, sickness, and pain...
Shloka 10
असक्तिरनभिष्वङ्गः पुत्रदारगृहादिषु। नित्यं च समचित्तत्वमिष्टानिष्टोपपत्तिषु।।13.10।।
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...non-attachment, absence of clinging to son, wife, home, and the rest, constant even-mindedness in desirable and undesirable events...
Shloka 11
मयि चानन्ययोगेन भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी। विविक्तदेशसेवित्वमरतिर्जनसंसदि।।13.11।।
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...unwavering devotion to Krishna through exclusive yoga, resorting to solitary places, distaste for the company of worldly people...
Shloka 12
अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्। एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोऽन्यथा।।13.12।।
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...constancy in Self-knowledge and perception of the goal of true knowledge — all this is declared to be knowledge. What is contrary to this is ignorance. These verses (13.8-12) describe the twenty qualities that constitute true knowledge.
Shloka 13
ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते। अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म न सत्तन्नासदुच्यते।।13.13।।
Show Meaning
Krishna now describes the object of knowledge, knowing which one attains immortality: the beginningless Supreme Brahman, which is said to be neither being nor non-being.
Shloka 14
सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम्। सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति।।13.14।।
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With hands and feet everywhere, eyes, heads, and faces everywhere, with ears everywhere — It (Brahman) exists pervading everything in this world.
Shloka 15
सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्। असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च।।13.15।।
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Appearing to have the functions of all the senses yet devoid of all senses, unattached yet supporting all, free from the three modes yet experiencing them.
Shloka 16
बहिरन्तश्च भूतानामचरं चरमेव च। सूक्ष्मत्वात्तदविज्ञेयं दूरस्थं चान्तिके च तत्।।13.16।।
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Inside and outside of all beings, moving and unmoving, incomprehensible due to Its subtlety, It stands far away and yet very near.
Shloka 17
अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम्। भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च।।13.17।।
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Though undivided, It appears to be divided among beings. It is to be known as the sustainer, destroyer, and creator of all beings.
Shloka 18
ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते। ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम्।।13.18।।
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Brahman is the light of all lights, said to be beyond darkness. It is knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the goal of knowledge, seated in the hearts of all.
Shloka 19
इति क्षेत्रं तथा ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं चोक्तं समासतः। मद्भक्त एतद्विज्ञाय मद्भावायोपपद्यते।।13.19।।
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Thus the field, knowledge, and the object of knowledge have been briefly described. Understanding this, Krishna's devotee attains the Divine nature.
Shloka 20
प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्ध्यनादी उभावपि। विकारांश्च गुणांश्चैव विद्धि प्रकृतिसम्भवान्।।13.20।।
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Know that both Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (the soul) are beginningless. All modifications and the three modes of nature are born of Prakriti.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 (Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga) about?
Chapter 13, Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga, deals with the distinction between the field (body/nature) and the knower of the field (soul). It contains 35 verses and is part of the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
How many verses are in Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 (Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga) has 35 shlokas (verses). On VedKosh each one is available with the original Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning in Hindi and English.
What is the key teaching of Chapter 13?
The central teaching of Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga is the distinction between the field (body/nature) and the knower of the field (soul). Read it as part of the unfolding wisdom Krishna gives Arjuna to resolve his moral crisis and act with clarity.