In Bhagavad Gita 13.7, Krishna adds desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, the body, consciousness and fortitude; this, he says, is the field with its modifications.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं
सङ्घातश्चेतना धृतिः
एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन
सविकारमुदाहृतम् ॥ १३-७ ॥
icchā dveṣaḥ sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ
saṅghātaścetanā dhṛtiḥ
etatkṣetraṃ samāsena
savikāramudāhṛtam
English transliteration ichchhaa dveshah sukham duhkham
sanghaatashchetanaa dhritih
etatkshetram samaasena
savikaaramudaahritam ॥ 13.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, the aggregate of the body, consciousness and fortitude: this, in brief, is the field described with its modifications.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| इच्छा icchā | desire |
| द्वेषः dveṣaḥ | aversion |
| सुखम् sukham | pleasure |
| दुःखम् duḥkham | pain |
| सङ्घातः saṅghātaḥ | the aggregate of the body |
| चेतना cetanā | consciousness, sentience |
| धृतिः dhṛtiḥ | fortitude |
| एतत् etat | this |
| क्षेत्रम् kṣetram | the field |
| समासेन samāsena | in brief |
| सविकारम् savikāram | with its modifications sa (with) + vikāram (modifications) |
| उदाहृतम् udāhṛtam | is described |
Word-wise Chanting
- ic–chā dve–ṣaḥ su–khaṃ duḥ–khaṃ 8 syllables ich-chhaa dve-shah su-kham duh-kham
- saṅ–ghā–taś–ce–ta–nā dhṛ–tiḥ | 8 syllables san-ghaa-tash-che-ta-naa dhri-tih
- e–tat–kṣet–raṃ sa–mā–se–na 8 syllables e-tat-kshet-ram sa-maa-se-na
- sa–vi–kā–ra–mu–dā–hṛ–tam || 13-7 8 syllables sa-vi-kaa-ra-mu-daa-hri-tam
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 7
Context
The list of 13.6 is completed.
Meaning
The field also includes the experiences that arise in it: icchā and dveṣa, desire and aversion; sukha and duḥkha, pleasure and pain; saṅghāta, the body as a composite whole; cetanā, the life-awareness that animates it; and dhṛti, the power to hold together and persist.
Our desires, dislikes, joys and sorrows are changes in the field. They come and go; the knower remains. Seeing this gives freedom from being ruled by them.
In Practice
When a desire or aversion arises today, label it inwardly, “This is a movement in the field,” and watch it pass.
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.