In Bhagavad Gita 13.15, Krishna says Brahman shines through the functions of all senses yet is free of all senses; it is unattached yet supports all, free of qualities yet experiences them.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं
सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्
असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव
निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च ॥ १३-१५ ॥
sarvendriyaguṇābhāsaṃ
sarvendriyavivarjitam
asaktaṃ sarvabhṛccaiva
nirguṇaṃ guṇabhoktṛ ca
English transliteration sarvendriyagunaabhaasam
sarvendriyavivarjitam
asaktam sarvabhrichchaiva
nirgunam gunabhoktri cha ॥ 13.15 ॥
Translation / Meaning
It shines through the functions of all the senses, yet is devoid of all senses; unattached, yet supporting all; free from the gunas, yet the experiencer of the gunas.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासम् sarvendriyaguṇābhāsam | shining through the functions of all the senses sarva (all) + indriya (senses) + guṇa (functions) + ābhāsam (shining) |
| सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम् sarvendriyavivarjitam | devoid of all senses sarva (all) + indriya (senses) + vivarjitam (devoid) |
| असक्तम् asaktam | unattached |
| सर्वभृत् sarvabhṛt | supporting all sarva (all) + bhṛt (supporting) |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| निर्गुणम् nirguṇam | free from the guṇas |
| गुणभोक्तृ guṇabhoktṛ | experiencer of the guṇas guṇa (guṇas) + bhoktṛ (experiencer) |
| च ca | and |
Word-wise Chanting
- sar–ven–dri–ya–gu–ṇā–bhā–saṃ 8 syllables sar-ven-dri-ya-gu-naa-bhaa-sam
- sar–ven–dri–ya–vi–var–ji–tam | 8 syllables sar-ven-dri-ya-vi-var-ji-tam
- a–sak–taṃ sar–va–bhṛc–cai–va 8 syllables a-sak-tam sar-va-bhrich-chai-va
- nir–gu–ṇaṃ gu–ṇa–bhok–tṛ ca || 13-15 8 syllables nir-gu-nam gu-na-bhok-tri cha
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 13 Verse 15
Context
Krishna describes the nature of Brahman (13.13–13.18).
Meaning
The verse is full of paradox. Brahman illuminates all sense activity yet has no senses of its own. It is asakta, unattached, yet sustains everything. It is nirguṇa, beyond the qualities of nature, yet it is the one that experiences them.
Paradox is the natural language of the infinite. The mind wants either/or; the Divine is both/and.
In Practice
Contemplate one of these paradoxes for a few minutes without trying to resolve it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (The Field and the Knower of the Field). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.