In Bhagavad Gita 13.6, Krishna lists the components of the field: the great elements, ego, intellect, the unmanifest, the ten senses with the mind, and the five sense objects.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
महाभूतान्यहङ्कारो
बुद्धिरव्यक्तमेव च
इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च
पञ्च चेन्द्रियगोचराः ॥ १३-६ ॥
mahābhūtānyahaṅkāro
buddhiravyaktameva ca
indriyāṇi daśaikaṃ ca
pañca cendriyagocarāḥ
English transliteration mahaabhootaanyahankaaro
buddhiravyaktameva cha
indriyaani dashaikam cha
pancha chendriyagocharaah ॥ 13.6 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The great elements, the ego, the intellect and the unmanifest; the ten senses and the one mind; and the five objects of the senses,
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| महाभूतानि mahābhūtāni | the great elements mahā (great) + bhūtāni (elements) |
| अहङ्कारः ahaṅkāraḥ | the ego |
| बुद्धिः buddhiḥ | the intellect |
| अव्यक्तम् avyaktam | the unmanifest |
| एव eva | also |
| च ca | and |
| इन्द्रियाणि indriyāṇi | senses |
| दश daśa | ten |
| एकम् ekam | one |
| च ca | and |
| पञ्च pañca | five |
| च ca | and |
| इन्द्रियगोचराः indriyagocarāḥ | objects of the senses indriya (senses) + gocarāḥ (objects) |
Word-wise Chanting
- ma–hā–bhū–tān–ya–haṅ–kā–ro 8 syllables ma-haa-bhoo-taan-ya-han-kaa-ro
- bud–dhi–rav–yak–ta–me–va ca | 8 syllables bud-dhi-rav-yak-ta-me-va cha
- in–dri–yā–ṇi da–śai–kaṃ ca 8 syllables in-dri-yaa-ni da-shai-kam cha
- pañ–ca cen–dri–ya–go–ca–rāḥ || 13-6 8 syllables pan-cha chen-dri-ya-go-cha-raah
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 6
Context
Krishna describes the components of the field; the sentence continues into 13.7.
Meaning
The field includes the five mahābhūtas, earth, water, fire, air and space; ahaṅkāra, the sense of “I”; buddhi, the intellect; avyakta, unmanifest nature; the ten indriyas, five senses of perception and five of action; the one mind; and the five sense objects, sound, touch, form, taste and smell.
Even ego, intellect and mind belong to the field. They are instruments of experience, not the experiencer. This is the Sāṅkhya analysis of existence.
In Practice
Notice the ego’s voice today, the “I want” and “I am”, and recognise it as part of the field, not your deepest Self.
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.