In Bhagavad Gita 13.31, Krishna says that when one sees the separate existence of beings as resting in the One, and their expansion from it alone, one attains Brahman.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यदा भूतपृथग्भावम्
एकस्थमनुपश्यति
तत एव च विस्तारं
ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा ॥ १३-३१ ॥
yadā bhūtapṛthagbhāvam
ekasthamanupaśyati
tata eva ca vistāraṃ
brahma sampadyate tadā
English transliteration yadaa bhootaprithagbhaavam
ekasthamanupashyati
tata eva cha vistaaram
brahma sampadyate tadaa ॥ 13.31 ॥
Translation / Meaning
When one sees the diverse existence of beings as resting in the One, and their spreading forth from that One alone, then one attains Brahman.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यदा yadā | when |
| भूतपृथग्भावम् bhūtapṛthagbhāvam | the diverse existence of beings bhūta (beings) + pṛthak (diverse) + bhāvam (existence) |
| एकस्थम् ekastham | resting in the One eka (One) + stham (resting) |
| अनुपश्यति anupaśyati | sees |
| ततः tataḥ | from that |
| एव eva | alone |
| च ca | and |
| विस्तारम् vistāram | spreading forth |
| ब्रह्म brahma | Brahman |
| सम्पद्यते sampadyate | attains |
| तदा tadā | then |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–dā bhū–ta–pṛ–thag–bhā–vam– 8 syllables ya-daa bhoo-ta-pri-thag-bhaa-vam-
- e–kas–tha–ma–nu–paś–ya–ti | 8 syllables e-kas-tha-ma-nu-pash-ya-ti
- ta–ta e–va ca vis–tā–raṃ 8 syllables ta-ta e-va cha vis-taa-ram
- brah–ma sam–pad–ya–te ta–dā || 13-31 8 syllables brah-ma sam-pad-ya-te ta-daa
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 31
Context
Krishna describes the culmination of true vision (13.28–13.31).
Meaning
The vision of unity in diversity is complete when one sees all the varied beings as ekastha, resting in the One, and their vistāra, their spreading out into many, as coming from that One alone. At that moment one sampadyate brahma, becomes Brahman.
This is the vision of the sage. The many do not disappear, but they are seen as the One expressing itself.
In Practice
Look at a tree with many branches and leaves, and see it as one life spreading out. Apply this to all beings.
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.