Srimad Bhagavad Gita : Chapter-13. Slokam-35.

14/07/2019
Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :

Chapter-13. ( Kshetra-kshetrajna-vibhaga-yogam)

Slokam-35.

"kshetrakshetrajnayorevam  antaram   jnanacakshusha,

bhutaprakrtimoksham  ca  ye  viduryanti  te  param."

Slokam-35. ( One who knowingly sees this difference between the body and the owner of the body and can understand the process of liberation from this bondage, also attains to the supreme goal. )

evam  =  thus;

kshetra-kshetrajnayoah  =  between  Kshetram  and  Kshetrajnan;

antaram  =  difference;

bhuta-prakrti-moksham  ca  =  the  moksham  ( liberation )  of  all  living  entities  from  the  relationship  of  Prakrti (  nature/ Samsaram )

jnana-cakshusha  =  by  Vision  of  Knowledge;

ye  viduh  =  those  who  know  this  ( above  details );

te  param  yanti  =  they  attain  Parama-padam  ( Supreme-abode ).

Discussion :

Lord Krishna concludes this chapter by revealing that those who by the vision of knowledge realise the distinction existing between the ksetra or sphere of activity which is the physical body and the ksetrajna or knower of the sphere of activity which for the omnipresent paramatma the Supreme Soul includes each and every the atma or immortal soul and in the case of the atma is the physical body. Along with those who imbibe and realise the 20 virtues given in verses 8 to 12 of this chapter beginning with amanitvam or humility, reverence which are the way and means of effecting escape from the degradation of mandated corporeal existence in samsara or the perpetual cycle of birth and death. Such persons realising their atma achieve moksham or liberation from material existence and attain param the supreme transcendence.

The actual purport of this chapter is now being concluded. Those with the spiritual eye of discriminative knowledge can see the difference and distinction between the material ksetra or sphere of activity and the spiritual ksetrajna or knower of the sphere of activity. Who by reflection and meditation understand the path to moksa or freedom from material existence and its corollary of samsara or the perpetual cycle of birth and death. Such persons attain param pure spiritual existence.

Lord Krishna concludes this chapter with a brief synopsis of what He has elaborated upon distinguishing the ksetra or sphere of activity and the ksetrajna or the knower of the sphere of activity. The atma or the individual immortal soul and paramatma or the all pervading Supreme Soul and the difference of both from each other as well as from prakriti or the material substratum pervading physical existence. He proclaims that those by the vision of knowledge inferring that was acquired by the teachings of the spiritual master from the Vedic scriptures through who realise these things achieve perfection and attain the supreme destination.

The purport of this Thirteenth Chapter is that one should know the distinction between the body, the owner of the body, and the Supersoul. A faithful person should at first have some good association to hear of God and thus gradually become enlightened. If one accepts a spiritual master, he can learn to distinguish between matter and spirit, and that becomes the steppingstone for further spiritual realization. A spiritual master teaches his students to get free from the material concept of life by various instructions. For instance, in Bhagavad-gita we find Krishna instructing Arjuna to free him from materialistic considerations.

One can understand that this body is matter; it can be analyzed with its twenty-four elements. That is the gross manifestation. And the subtle manifestation is the mind and psychological effects. And the symptoms of life are the interaction of these features. But over and above this, there is the soul, and there is also the Supersoul. The soul and the Supersoul are two. This material world is working by the conjunction of the soul and the twenty-four material elements. One who can see the constitution of the whole material manifestation as this combination of the soul and material elements and also can see the situation of the Supreme Soul becomes eligible for transfer to the spiritual world. These things are meant for contemplation and for realization, and one should have a complete understanding of this chapter with the help of the spiritual master.

The path of deliverance from prakriti or the material substratum pervading physical existence and moksa or liberation from the material existence for the jivas is achieved by embracing the 20 virtues given in verses 8 to 12 of this chapter beginning with the word amanitvam meaning humilty, reverence.

I bow down to the Supreme Lord Krishna who appeared as the son of Nanda Maharaj in Vrindavan at the end of Dvapara Yuga and who is of the nature of ananda or unending bliss. Who eloquently elaborated and concisely clarified what is generally misunderstood that is: The distinct difference between transitory prakriti the material substratum pervading physical existence and the eternal purusa the Supreme Being who manifests as paramatma the Supreme Soul in each and every jiva or embodied being everywhere in creation and is the source of the brahman or spiritual substratum pervading all existence.

I take complete refuge in the Supreme Lord Krishna, the omniscient and omnipotent Supreme Being, the controller of all. Who out of causeless compassion categorically instructed the discriminative knowledge of the ksetra and the ksetrajna.

Chapter-13. ENDS.

Next : Chapter-14. GUNA-TRAYA-VIBHAGA-YOGAM

To be continued   ....