In Bhagavad Gita 13.23, Krishna says the supreme spirit in this body is called the witness, the approver, the supporter, the experiencer, the great Lord and the Supreme Self.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
उपद्रष्टानुमन्ता च
भर्ता भोक्ता महेश्वरः
परमात्मेति चाप्युक्तो
देहेऽस्मिन्पुरुषः परः ॥ १३-२३ ॥
upadraṣṭānumantā ca
bhartā bhoktā maheśvaraḥ
paramātmeti cāpyukto
dehe’sminpuruṣaḥ paraḥ
English transliteration upadrashtaanumantaa cha
bhartaa bhoktaa maheshvarah
paramaatmeti chaapyukto
dehe’sminpurushah parah ॥ 13.23 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The supreme Spirit in this body is called the witness, the one who permits, the supporter, the experiencer, the great Lord, and also the Supreme Self.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| उपद्रष्टा upadraṣṭā | the witness |
| अनुमन्ता anumantā | the one who permits |
| च ca | and |
| भर्ता bhartā | the supporter |
| भोक्ता bhoktā | the experiencer |
| महेश्वरः maheśvaraḥ | the great Lord mahā (great) + īśvaraḥ (Lord) |
| परमात्मा paramātmā | the Supreme Self parama (supreme) + ātmā (Self) |
| इति iti | thus |
| च ca | and |
| अपि api | also |
| उक्तः uktaḥ | called |
| देहे dehe | in body |
| अस्मिन् asmin | this |
| पुरुषः puruṣaḥ | Spirit |
| परः paraḥ | supreme |
Word-wise Chanting
- u–pad–raṣ–ṭā–nu–man–tā ca 8 syllables u-pad-rash-taa-nu-man-taa cha
- bhar–tā bhok–tā ma–heś–va–raḥ | 8 syllables bhar-taa bhok-taa ma-hesh-va-rah
- pa–ra–māt–me–ti cāp–yuk–to 8 syllables pa-ra-maat-me-ti chaap-yuk-to
- de–he–‘smin–pu–ru–ṣaḥ pa–raḥ || 13-23 8 syllables de-he-‘smin-pu-ru-shah pa-rah
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 23
Context
Krishna continues explaining nature and spirit (13.20–13.24).
Meaning
Within the body dwells the para puruṣa, the supreme Spirit. It is upadraṣṭā, the witness who watches closely; anumantā, the one who permits and approves; bhartā, the sustainer; bhoktā, the experiencer; maheśvara, the great Lord; and paramātmā, the Supreme Self.
The Divine is not only far above us but present within the body as our inner witness and Lord. We are never unobserved and never alone.
In Practice
Sense the inner witness today, the silent presence that observes all your actions.
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.