Ma Gurupriya
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13
Ma Gurupriya
Lord Krishna said: O Kaunteya (Arjuna), this body is called kshetra, the Field. Knowers of Truth say that whoever knows this, is the Kshetrajña, the knower of the Field.
Know Me (the supreme Reality) to be the Knower of the Field, in all fields. I consider the knowledge of both kshetra and Kshetrajña as true spiritual wisdom.
Hear from Me in essence: What that Field (kshetra) is, what are its characteristics and various modifications, wherefrom and how it has originated; and also what He (the Kshetrajña) is and what are His powers.
(All this) has been sung by the Rishis (Seers) in many ways, in distinct metres; and also has been established by the rational words and phrases of Brahma-sūtras (aphoristic statements delineating Brahman, the supreme Reality).
The five subtle elements (space, air, fire, water and earth); then the ego, intelligence, the unmanifest existence (avyakta), the ten organs (of knowledge and action) and the mind; then five objects of sensory perceptions (sound, touch, colour, taste and smell); desire, dislike, pleasantness, unpleasantness, the aggregate-body, consciousness and resolve – these constitute kshetra with its multiple derivatives.
The five subtle elements (space, air, fire, water and earth); then the ego, intelligence, the unmanifest existence (avyakta), the ten organs (of knowledge and action) and the mind; then five objects of sensory perceptions (sound, touch, colour, taste and smell); desire, dislike, pleasantness, unpleasantness, the aggregate-body, consciousness and resolve – these constitute kshetra with its multiple derivatives.
Sublimation of pride, non-ostentation, non-hurting, tolerance or forgiveness, straight-forwardness, adoring and serving the Teacher, cleanliness (of body and mind), stability and steadfastness, self-control;–
Not being passionate about sensory objects, freedom from egoism, seeing clearly the trouble and torment associated with birth, death, old age, disease and affliction; safeguarding against delusional clinging to children, wife, household, etc. and the resultant suffering, always being even-minded in favourable and unfavourable turn of events.
Not being passionate about sensory objects, freedom from egoism, seeing clearly the trouble and torment associated with birth, death, old age, disease and affliction; safeguarding against delusional clinging to children, wife, household, etc. and the resultant suffering, always being even-minded in favourable and unfavourable turn of events.
Unflinching devotion and yoga of exclusive loyalty to Me (the Teacher who exposes the supreme Truth); the habit of seeking seclusion and finding joy in it; lack of interest in and disinclination to be with crowds and the din and bustle of the world.
Being constantly given to spiritual introspection, perceiving the true object of life as determined by the tenets of spiritual wisdom – all these together (beginning from verse 13.8) constitute true wisdom. Everything else is sheer ignorance.
I shall now describe clearly that which should be known, knowing which one attains immortality. It is the beginningless, supreme Brahman, which is neither existence nor non-existence.
With hands and feet, eyes, head, face and ears everywhere, it stands embracing all.
Revealing all sense-objects, though itself devoid of senses, it is dis-attached, yet the sustainer of all, attribute-free, the enjoyer of all qualities.
Present outside and inside the beings, mobile and immobile alike, it remains incomprehensible due to its subtlety. It is far away, yet close by too.
Though indivisible, it appears divided in beings (with their individual ego-centre). It is to be known as the originator, preserver and dissolver of all.
It is the effulgence of all luminaries. It is said to be beyond darkness (ignorance). It is Knowledge, the One to be known and reached by Knowledge alone. It is established in everyone’s heart.
Thus briefly have been stated what the kshetra, knowledge, and what ought to be known, are. My devotee, having known this, becomes fit to attain My state (the supreme state).
Know both Prakṛti (Nature) and Purusha (the Soul) as beginningless (transcending time). Know all modifications and qualities as born of Prakṛti alone. (Purusha remains ever the same).
In producing all kinds of outcome, including our body, with instruments of action, the limbs and senses, Prakṛti (Nature) is the sole cause. In experiencing sukha and dumkha, Purusha is the cause.
Purusha, dwelling in Prakṛti (Nature), experiences the outcomes brought by its qualities (guṇas). His clinging to these qualities is the cause for births in good or bad wombs.
Purusha, dwelling in the body, witnesses, permits, supports and experiences everything. The overlord of all, He is also said to be Paramātmā, the supreme Self.
Whoever thus knows the Purusha and Prakṛti along with its (Prakṛti’s) attributes, will not court any further birth, no matter how he lives.
Resorting to exclusive meditation, some perceive the Self in them by their self. Some others do so by assiduous introspection (Vicāra or Sāṅkhya-yoga), while others accomplish the goal by taking to Karma-yoga.
There are yet others who, ignorant of these paths, take to sādhanā listening to others’ expositions. Such seekers also, given to assiduous listening and sincere pursuit, transcend mortality.
Whatever being, mobile or immobile, is born, understand it to be an effect of the conjunction of kshetra and Kshetrajña (Nature and Consciousness), O the great among Bharatas (Arjuna).
He who perceives the supreme Lord as established in all beings equally, further as the imperishable presence in all perishable entities around, is the real Seer.
Perceiving the Lord as equally present everywhere and in all alike, such a one does not destroy the Self by the self, and hence attains the supreme spiritual state.
He who ‘sees’ all kinds of activities as instrumented by Prakṛti alone, and likewise sees the Self as ever the non-doer, is the true Seer.
When one perceives all diverse beings as abiding in the One, and spreading forth from It, he attains Brahman.
The inmost Soul, being beginningless and free of any attribute, is Imperishable. O Kunti’s son (Arjuna), though dwelling in the body, It neither does anything, nor gets tainted the least.
Just as the all-pervading space, due to its subtlety, does not court any stain, the Soul, permeating throughout the body, is not tainted by anything (happening to the body).
As the one Sun illumines this whole world, so does the one Subject Consciousness (Kshetrī) reveal the entire object-world (kshetra), O Bhārata.
Those who, with the power of spiritual insight, know the difference between the Field (kshetra) and the Knower of the Field (Kshetrajña), and equally the truth about the freedom from the stronghold of Prakṛti, reach the Supreme.
Om – the symbol of Brahman, tat – that singular Reality (Brahman), sat – the ever abiding presence (Brahman).
Thus ends the thirteenth chapter entitled Kṣetra-kṣetrajña-vibhāga Yoga, during the Srikrishna-Arjuna dialogue in Śrīmad Bhagavad Gita, constituting Yoga-śāstra, which falls within Brahmavidya as presented in the Vedic Upanishads.
Ma Gurupriya
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