Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 34: As the Sun Lights the Whole World

In Bhagavad Gita 13.34, Krishna says that as the one sun illuminates this whole world, so the Lord of the field illuminates the whole field.

Sanskrit Verse

Bhagavad Gita 13.34 · Chapter 13, Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga

श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said

यथा प्रकाशयत्येकः
कृत्स्नं लोकमिमं रविः
क्षेत्रं क्षेत्री तथा कृत्स्नं
प्रकाशयति भारत ॥ १३-३४ ॥

yathā prakāśayatyekaḥ
kṛtsnaṃ lokamimaṃ raviḥ
kṣetraṃ kṣetrī tathā kṛtsnaṃ
prakāśayati bhārata

English transliteration yathaa prakaashayatyekah
kritsnam lokamimam ravih
kshetram kshetree tathaa kritsnam
prakaashayati bhaarata ॥ 13.34 ॥

Translation / Meaning

As the one sun illuminates this whole world, so the Lord of the field illuminates the whole field, O descendant of Bharata.

In one line: As the sun lights the world, the Self illumines the whole field.

Word Meanings

Word Meaning
यथा yathā as
प्रकाशयति prakāśayati illuminates
एकः ekaḥ the one
कृत्स्नम् kṛtsnam whole
लोकम् lokam world
इमम् imam this
रविः raviḥ sun
क्षेत्रम् kṣetram the field
क्षेत्री kṣetrī the Lord of the field
तथा tathā so
कृत्स्नम् kṛtsnam whole
प्रकाशयति prakāśayati illuminates
भारत bhārata O descendant of Bharata

Word-wise Chanting

Metre: Anuṣṭubh (śloka) · 4 pādas of 8 syllables

  1. ya–thā pra–kā–śa–yat–ye–kaḥ 8 syllables ya-thaa pra-kaa-sha-yat-ye-kah
  2. kṛt–snaṃ lo–ka–mi–maṃ ra–viḥ | 8 syllables krit-snam lo-ka-mi-mam ra-vih
  3. kṣet–raṃ kṣet–rī ta–thā kṛt–snaṃ 8 syllables kshet-ram kshet-ree ta-thaa krit-snam
  4. pra–kā–śa–ya–ti bhā–ra–ta || 13-34 8 syllables pra-kaa-sha-ya-ti bhaa-ra-ta
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 34

Context

Krishna gives the image of the sun (13.32–13.34).

Meaning

The single sun lights up the entire world. In the same way, the kṣetrī, the owner and knower of the field, illuminates the whole field of body and mind with consciousness. Without that light, nothing could be experienced.

Every perception, thought and feeling is lit by the inner light of awareness. We can turn toward that light rather than only toward what it illuminates.

In Practice

Notice that every experience you have today is lit by awareness. Turn your attention, for a moment, to the light itself.

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.