In Bhagavad Gita 13.28, Krishna says that one who sees the Supreme Lord abiding equally in all beings, imperishable within the perishing, truly sees.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
समं सर्वेषु भूतेषु
तिष्ठन्तं परमेश्वरम्
विनश्यत्स्वविनश्यन्तं
यः पश्यति स पश्यति ॥ १३-२८ ॥
samaṃ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
tiṣṭhantaṃ parameśvaram
vinaśyatsvavinaśyantaṃ
yaḥ paśyati sa paśyati
English transliteration samam sarveshu bhooteshu
tishthantam parameshvaram
vinashyatsvavinashyantam
yah pashyati sa pashyati ॥ 13.28 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who sees the Supreme Lord abiding equally in all beings, the imperishable within the perishable, truly sees.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| समम् samam | equally |
| सर्वेषु sarveṣu | in all |
| भूतेषु bhūteṣu | beings |
| तिष्ठन्तम् tiṣṭhantam | abiding |
| परमेश्वरम् parameśvaram | the Supreme Lord |
| विनश्यत्सु vinaśyatsu | within the perishable |
| अविनश्यन्तम् avinaśyantam | the imperishable |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| पश्यति paśyati | sees |
| सः saḥ | he |
| पश्यति paśyati | truly sees |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa–maṃ sar–ve–ṣu bhū–te–ṣu 8 syllables sa-mam sar-ve-shu bhoo-te-shu
- tiṣ–ṭhan–taṃ pa–ra–meś–va–ram | 8 syllables tish-than-tam pa-ra-mesh-va-ram
- vi–naś–yat–sva–vi–naś–yan–taṃ 8 syllables vi-nash-yat-sva-vi-nash-yan-tam
- yaḥ paś–ya–ti sa paś–ya–ti || 13-28 8 syllables yah pash-ya-ti sa pash-ya-ti
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 28
Context
Krishna describes true vision (13.28–13.29).
Meaning
True seeing is not the perception of forms but the recognition of the parameśvara, the Supreme Lord, present sama, equally, in every being. Bodies perish; the Lord within does not. Only one who sees this paśyati, truly sees.
The repetition “he sees, he truly sees” emphasises how rare and precious this vision is. Most of us see only the surface.
In Practice
Practise seeing the same Divine presence in everyone you meet today, regardless of how they appear.
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.