In Bhagavad Gita 13.2, Krishna says the body is called the field, and one who knows it is called the knower of the field by those who know these things.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय
क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते
एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः
क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः ॥ १३-२ ॥
idaṃ śarīraṃ kaunteya
kṣetramityabhidhīyate
etadyo vetti taṃ prāhuḥ
kṣetrajña iti tadvidaḥ
English transliteration idam shareeram kaunteya
kshetramityabhidheeyate
etadyo vetti tam praahuh
kshetrajna iti tadvidah ॥ 13.2 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: This body, O son of Kunti, is called the field. One who knows it is called the knower of the field by those who know of these things.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इदम् idam | this |
| शरीरम् śarīram | body |
| कौन्तेय kaunteya | O son of Kuntī |
| क्षेत्रम् kṣetram | the field |
| इति iti | thus |
| अभिधीयते abhidhīyate | is called |
| एतत् etat | this |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| वेत्ति vetti | knows |
| तम् tam | him |
| प्राहुः prāhuḥ | call |
| क्षेत्रज्ञः kṣetrajñaḥ | the knower of the field |
| इति iti | thus |
| तद्विदः tadvidaḥ | those who know of these things tat (that) + vidaḥ (knowers) |
Word-wise Chanting
- i–daṃ śa–rī–raṃ kaun–te–ya 8 syllables i-dam sha-ree-ram kaun-te-ya
- kṣet–ra–mit–ya–bhi–dhī–ya–te | 8 syllables kshet-ra-mit-ya-bhi-dhee-ya-te
- e–tad–yo vet–ti taṃ prā–huḥ 8 syllables e-tad-yo vet-ti tam praa-huh
- kṣet–ra–jña i–ti tad–vi–daḥ || 13-2 8 syllables kshet-ra-jna i-ti tad-vi-dah
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 2
Context
Krishna begins his answer (numbered 13.1 in 700-verse editions).
Meaning
Krishna gives a clear distinction. The śarīra, the body, together with the mind and senses, is the kṣetra, the field, where experience happens and actions bear fruit. The one who knows this field, the conscious witness, is the kṣetrajña.
A field is something that is cultivated and yields a harvest. Our body-mind is such a field, where the seeds of action grow. We are not the field but its knower.
In Practice
Observe your body and thoughts for a few minutes as a field that you are watching, not as who you are.
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.