In Bhagavad Gita 13.19, Krishna says that the field, knowledge and the object of knowledge have been briefly described; his devotee, understanding this, becomes fit for his state of being.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
इति क्षेत्रं तथा ज्ञानं
ज्ञेयं चोक्तं समासतः
मद्भक्त एतद्विज्ञाय
मद्भावायोपपद्यते ॥ १३-१९ ॥
iti kṣetraṃ tathā jñānaṃ
jñeyaṃ coktaṃ samāsataḥ
madbhakta etadvijñāya
madbhāvāyopapadyate
English transliteration iti kshetram tathaa jnaanam
jneyam choktam samaasatah
madbhakta etadvijnaaya
madbhaavaayopapadyate ॥ 13.19 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Thus the field, knowledge and the object of knowledge have been described in brief. My devotee, understanding this, becomes fit for My state of being.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इति iti | thus |
| क्षेत्रम् kṣetram | the field |
| तथा tathā | also |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| ज्ञेयम् jñeyam | the object of knowledge |
| च ca | and |
| उक्तम् uktam | described |
| समासतः samāsataḥ | in brief |
| मद्भक्तः madbhaktaḥ | My devotee |
| एतत् etat | this |
| विज्ञाय vijñāya | understanding |
| मद्भावाय madbhāvāya | for My state of being mat (My) + bhāvāya (state) |
| उपपद्यते upapadyate | becomes fit |
Word-wise Chanting
- i–ti kṣet–raṃ ta–thā jñā–naṃ 8 syllables i-ti kshet-ram ta-thaa jnaa-nam
- jñe–yaṃ cok–taṃ sa–mā–sa–taḥ | 8 syllables jne-yam chok-tam sa-maa-sa-tah
- mad–bhak–ta e–tad–vi–jñā–ya 8 syllables mad-bhak-ta e-tad-vi-jnaa-ya
- mad–bhā–vā–yo–pa–pad–ya–te || 13-19 8 syllables mad-bhaa-vaa-yo-pa-pad-ya-te
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 19
Context
Krishna summarises the first part of the chapter.
Meaning
Krishna has explained the kṣetra, the field; jñāna, the qualities that make up knowledge; and jñeya, Brahman, the object of knowledge. The devotee who understands this becomes worthy of mad-bhāva, the Divine’s own nature.
Knowledge and devotion meet here. It is the devotee who understands, and understanding deepens devotion.
In Practice
Summarise for yourself what the field, knowledge and the known mean, and offer that understanding to the Divine.
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.