In Bhagavad Gita 13.27, Krishna says that whatever being is born, moving or unmoving, know it arises from the union of the field and the knower of the field.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यावत्सञ्जायते किञ्चित्
सत्त्वं स्थावरजङ्गमम्
क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगात्
तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ ॥ १३-२७ ॥
yāvatsañjāyate kiñcit
sattvaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam
kṣetrakṣetrajñasaṃyogāt
tadviddhi bharatarṣabha
English transliteration yaavatsanjaayate kinchit
sattvam sthaavarajangamam
kshetrakshetrajnasamyogaat
tadviddhi bharatarshabha ॥ 13.27 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whatever being is born, whether moving or unmoving, know it to arise from the union of the field and the knower of the field, O best of the Bharatas.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यावत् yāvat | whatever |
| सञ्जायते sañjāyate | is born |
| किञ्चित् kiñcit | any |
| सत्त्वम् sattvam | being |
| स्थावरजङ्गमम् sthāvarajaṅgamam | unmoving or moving sthāvara (unmoving) + jaṅgamam (moving) |
| क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगात् kṣetrakṣetrajñasaṃyogāt | from the union of the field and its knower kṣetra (field) + kṣetrajña (knower) + saṃyogāt (union) |
| तत् tat | that |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| भरतर्षभ bharatarṣabha | O best of the Bharatas |
Word-wise Chanting
- yā–vat–sañ–jā–ya–te kiñ–cit– 8 syllables yaa-vat-san-jaa-ya-te kin-chit-
- sat–tvaṃ sthā–va–ra–jaṅ–ga–mam | 8 syllables sat-tvam sthaa-va-ra-jan-ga-mam
- kṣet–ra–kṣet–ra–jña–saṃ–yo–gāt– 8 syllables kshet-ra-kshet-ra-jna-sam-yo-gaat-
- tad–vid–dhi bha–ra–tar–ṣa–bha || 13-27 8 syllables tad-vid-dhi bha-ra-tar-sha-bha
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 27
Context
Krishna explains the origin of beings (13.27–13.28).
Meaning
Every living being, whether it moves or not, comes into existence through the saṃyoga, union, of kṣetra, nature, and kṣetrajña, consciousness. Life is the meeting of matter and spirit.
Every being we see is a union of the material and the conscious. Recognising the conscious element in all beings awakens reverence.
In Practice
Look at a plant or animal today and recognise in it the union of nature and consciousness.
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.