In Bhagavad Gita 13.33, Krishna says that as all-pervading space, because of its subtlety, is not tainted, so the Self, present everywhere in the body, is not tainted.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यथा सर्वगतं सौक्ष्म्याद्
आकाशं नोपलिप्यते
सर्वत्रावस्थितो देहे
तथात्मा नोपलिप्यते ॥ १३-३३ ॥
yathā sarvagataṃ saukṣmyād
ākāśaṃ nopalipyate
sarvatrāvasthito dehe
tathātmā nopalipyate
English transliteration yathaa sarvagatam saukshmyaad
aakaasham nopalipyate
sarvatraavasthito dehe
tathaatmaa nopalipyate ॥ 13.33 ॥
Translation / Meaning
As the all-pervading space, because of its subtlety, is not tainted, so the Self, present everywhere in the body, is not tainted.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यथा yathā | as |
| सर्वगतम् sarvagatam | all-pervading sarva (all) + gatam (pervading) |
| सौक्ष्म्यात् saukṣmyāt | because of its subtlety |
| आकाशम् ākāśam | space |
| न na | not |
| उपलिप्यते upalipyate | is tainted |
| सर्वत्र sarvatra | everywhere |
| अवस्थितः avasthitaḥ | present |
| देहे dehe | in the body |
| तथा tathā | so |
| आत्मा ātmā | the Self |
| न na | not |
| उपलिप्यते upalipyate | is tainted |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–thā sar–va–ga–taṃ saukṣ–myād– 8 syllables ya-thaa sar-va-ga-tam sauksh-myaad-
- ā–kā–śaṃ no–pa–lip–ya–te | 8 syllables aa-kaa-sham no-pa-lip-ya-te
- sar–vat–rā–vas–thi–to de–he 8 syllables sar-vat-raa-vas-thi-to de-he
- ta–thāt–mā no–pa–lip–ya–te || 13-33 8 syllables ta-thaat-maa no-pa-lip-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 33
Context
Krishna gives the image of space (13.32–13.34).
Meaning
Ākāśa, space, is everywhere, in clean and dirty places alike, yet it is never stained by what it contains. Because of its saukṣmya, subtlety, nothing sticks to it. The Self is like this: present throughout the body, yet untouched by it.
Space holds everything without resistance or contamination. Our awareness can do the same: hold every experience without being stained by it.
In Practice
When something unpleasant happens today, imagine your awareness as open space that holds it without being stained.
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.