In Bhagavad Gita 13.20, Krishna says that both prakriti and purusha are beginningless, and that all changes and the gunas arise from prakriti.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव
विद्ध्यनादी उभावपि
विकारांश्च गुणांश्चैव
विद्धि प्रकृतिसम्भवान् ॥ १३-२० ॥
prakṛtiṃ puruṣaṃ caiva
viddhyanādī ubhāvapi
vikārāṃśca guṇāṃścaiva
viddhi prakṛtisambhavān
English transliteration prakritim purusham chaiva
viddhyanaadee ubhaavapi
vikaaraamshcha gunaamshchaiva
viddhi prakritisambhavaan ॥ 13.20 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Know that both nature and the Spirit are without beginning. And know that all modifications and the gunas arise from nature.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रकृतिम् prakṛtim | nature |
| पुरुषम् puruṣam | the Spirit |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | indeed |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| अनादी anādī | without beginning |
| उभौ ubhau | both |
| अपि api | also |
| विकारान् vikārān | modifications |
| च ca | and |
| गुणान् guṇān | the guṇas |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| प्रकृतिसम्भवान् prakṛtisambhavān | arising from nature prakṛti (nature) + sambhavān (arising) |
Word-wise Chanting
- pra–kṛ–tiṃ pu–ru–ṣaṃ cai–va 8 syllables pra-kri-tim pu-ru-sham chai-va
- vid–dhya–nā–dī u–bhā–va–pi | 8 syllables vid-dhya-naa-dee u-bhaa-va-pi
- vi–kā–rāṃś–ca gu–ṇāṃś–cai–va 8 syllables vi-kaa-raamsh-cha gu-naamsh-chai-va
- vid–dhi pra–kṛ–ti–sam–bha–vān || 13-20 8 syllables vid-dhi pra-kri-ti-sam-bha-vaan
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 20
Context
Krishna now explains prakriti and purusha (13.20–13.24).
Meaning
Both prakṛti, nature, and puruṣa, conscious spirit, are anādi, without beginning. All vikāras, transformations, such as body, mind and senses, and the three guṇas, sattva, rajas and tamas, belong to prakṛti, not to the spirit.
Our changing personality, moods and qualities belong to nature. The spirit, our true self, is the unchanging witness.
In Practice
When your mood changes today, remember: this is nature changing, not my true self.
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.