In Bhagavad Gita 13.3, Krishna says he is the knower of the field in all fields; knowledge of the field and its knower is, in his view, true knowledge.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि
सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत
क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं
यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम ॥ १३-३ ॥
kṣetrajñaṃ cāpi māṃ viddhi
sarvakṣetreṣu bhārata
kṣetrakṣetrajñayorjñānaṃ
yattajjñānaṃ mataṃ mama
English transliteration kshetrajnam chaapi maam viddhi
sarvakshetreshu bhaarata
kshetrakshetrajnayorjnaanam
yattajjnaanam matam mama ॥ 13.3 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Know Me also as the knower of the field in all fields, O descendant of Bharata. The knowledge of the field and its knower is, in My view, true knowledge.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| क्षेत्रज्ञम् kṣetrajñam | the knower of the field |
| च ca | and |
| अपि api | also |
| माम् mām | Me |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| सर्वक्षेत्रेषु sarvakṣetreṣu | in all fields sarva (all) + kṣetreṣu (fields) |
| भारत bhārata | O descendant of Bharata |
| क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोः kṣetrakṣetrajñayoḥ | of the field and its knower |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| यत् yat | which |
| तत् tat | that |
| ज्ञानम् jñānam | knowledge |
| मतम् matam | considered |
| मम mama | by Me |
Word-wise Chanting
- kṣet–ra–jñaṃ cā–pi māṃ vid–dhi 8 syllables kshet-ra-jnam chaa-pi maam vid-dhi
- sar–va–kṣet–re–ṣu bhā–ra–ta | 8 syllables sar-va-kshet-re-shu bhaa-ra-ta
- kṣet–ra–kṣet–ra–jña–yor–jñā–naṃ 8 syllables kshet-ra-kshet-ra-jna-yor-jnaa-nam
- yat–taj–jñā–naṃ ma–taṃ ma–ma || 13-3 8 syllables yat-taj-jnaa-nam ma-tam ma-ma
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 3
Context
Krishna continues defining the field and its knower.
Meaning
There is one knower in all fields. The consciousness that knows each body is ultimately the Divine itself. True jñāna is the clear understanding of the difference between the field, which changes, and the knower, which does not.
This is a profound statement of unity. The awareness in you and in every other being is the same Divine awareness.
In Practice
Look into another person’s eyes today and remember that the same knower looks out from both of you.
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.