In Bhagavad Gita 13.24, Krishna says that one who knows the spirit and nature with its gunas in this way is not born again, however he may live.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
य एवं वेत्ति पुरुषं
प्रकृतिं च गुणैः सह
सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि
न स भूयोऽभिजायते ॥ १३-२४ ॥
ya evaṃ vetti puruṣaṃ
prakṛtiṃ ca guṇaiḥ saha
sarvathā vartamāno’pi
na sa bhūyo’bhijāyate
English transliteration ya evam vetti purusham
prakritim cha gunaih saha
sarvathaa vartamaano’pi
na sa bhooyo’bhijaayate ॥ 13.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who knows the Spirit and nature together with the gunas in this way is not born again, in whatever way he may be living.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यः yaḥ | who |
| एवम् evam | in this way |
| वेत्ति vetti | knows |
| पुरुषम् puruṣam | the Spirit |
| प्रकृतिम् prakṛtim | nature |
| च ca | and |
| गुणैः guṇaiḥ | with the guṇas |
| सह saha | together |
| सर्वथा sarvathā | in whatever way |
| वर्तमानः vartamānaḥ | living |
| अपि api | even |
| न na | not |
| सः saḥ | he |
| भूयः bhūyaḥ | again |
| अभिजायते abhijāyate | is born |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya e–vaṃ vet–ti pu–ru–ṣaṃ 8 syllables ya e-vam vet-ti pu-ru-sham
- pra–kṛ–tiṃ ca gu–ṇaiḥ sa–ha | 8 syllables pra-kri-tim cha gu-naih sa-ha
- sar–va–thā var–ta–mā–no–‘pi 8 syllables sar-va-thaa var-ta-maa-no-‘pi
- na sa bhū–yo–‘bhi–jā–ya–te || 13-24 8 syllables na sa bhoo-yo-‘bhi-jaa-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 24
Context
Krishna states the fruit of this knowledge (13.20–13.24).
Meaning
Whoever truly understands the distinction between puruṣa and prakṛti, and the working of the guṇas, is freed from rebirth. Sarvathā vartamāno’pi, whatever his outward circumstances or way of life, this knowledge liberates.
Liberation does not depend on external conditions but on inner understanding. One can be free while fully engaged in the world.
In Practice
Remind yourself today that freedom is an inner understanding, available in any circumstance.
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.