In Bhagavad Gita 13.4, Krishna asks Arjuna to hear briefly what the field is, its nature, its changes and their source, and who the knower is and what his powers are.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तत्क्षेत्रं यच्च यादृक्च
यद्विकारि यतश्च यत्
स च यो यत्प्रभावश्च
तत्समासेन मे शृणु ॥ १३-४ ॥
tatkṣetraṃ yacca yādṛkca
yadvikāri yataśca yat
sa ca yo yatprabhāvaśca
tatsamāsena me śṛṇu
English transliteration tatkshetram yachcha yaadrikcha
yadvikaari yatashcha yat
sa cha yo yatprabhaavashcha
tatsamaasena me shrinu ॥ 13.4 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Hear from Me in brief what that field is, what it is like, what its modifications are, and from what it arises; and also who the knower is, and what his powers are.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तत् tat | that |
| क्षेत्रम् kṣetram | field |
| यत् yat | what |
| च ca | and |
| यादृक् yādṛk | what it is like |
| च ca | and |
| यद्विकारि yadvikāri | what its modifications are yat (what) + vikāri (modifications) |
| यतः yataḥ | from what |
| च ca | and |
| यत् yat | which |
| सः saḥ | he |
| च ca | and |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| यत्प्रभावः yatprabhāvaḥ | what his powers are yat (what) + prabhāvaḥ (powers) |
| च ca | and |
| तत् tat | that |
| समासेन samāsena | in brief |
| मे me | from Me |
| शृणु śṛṇu | hear |
Word-wise Chanting
- tat–kṣet–raṃ yac–ca yā–dṛk–ca 8 syllables tat-kshet-ram yach-cha yaa-drik-cha
- yad–vi–kā–ri ya–taś–ca yat | 8 syllables yad-vi-kaa-ri ya-tash-cha yat
- sa ca yo yat–pra–bhā–vaś–ca 8 syllables sa cha yo yat-pra-bhaa-vash-cha
- tat–sa–mā–se–na me śṛ–ṇu || 13-4 8 syllables tat-sa-maa-se-na me shri-nu
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 4
Context
Krishna outlines the subjects he will explain.
Meaning
Krishna promises a concise account of the kṣetra: what it is, its qualities, the vikāras, changes it undergoes, and its origin. He will also explain the kṣetrajña and its prabhāva, powers.
A good teacher first gives the outline. This helps us follow the teaching and see how each part fits.
In Practice
Before studying something new, sketch an outline of what you want to learn.
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.