Chapter 13 Verse 1
Kṣhetra Kṣhetrajña Vibhāg Yog
अर्जुन उवाच प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञमेव च। एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं च केशव।।13.1।।
arjuna uvācha prakṛitiṁ puruṣhaṁ chaiva kṣhetraṁ kṣhetra-jñam eva cha etad veditum ichchhāmi jñānaṁ jñeyaṁ cha keśhava
Word Meanings
| arjunaḥ uvācha | Arjun said |
| prakṛitim | material nature |
| puruṣham | the enjoyer |
| cha | and |
| eva | indeed |
| kṣhetram | the field of activities |
| kṣhetra-jñam | the knower of the field |
| eva | even |
| cha | also |
| etat | this |
| veditum | to know |
| ichchhāmi | I wish |
| jñānam | knowledge |
| jñeyam | the goal of knowledge |
| cha | and |
| keśhava | Krishna, the killer of the demon named Keshi |
Translation
Arjuna said, "I wish to learn about Nature and the Spirit, the field and the knower of the field, knowledge and that which ought to be known, O Kesava."
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
Arjuna opens by asking Krishna to explain two pairs: the field (prakriti, the body-mind world) and the knower (puruṣha, the inner witness), and the difference between knowledge and the object of knowledge. He asks for clear understanding about who we are and what we experience.
Philosophically, the verse points to a basic split: life’s events, the body, thoughts and feelings are the “field” where things happen; the “knower” is the silent awareness that notices them. Knowing this difference is the root of true self-knowledge.
Practically, this teaching helps remove confusion and suffering that comes from identifying only with changing things. When you see yourself as the steady witness rather than just the changing body or mind, you act more clearly, lose less fear, and live with inner freedom.
Life Application
- When upset, pause and notice the feelings as happening in you, not as your whole identity — say to yourself, “I am aware of this feeling.”
- Spend 3–5 minutes daily watching your breath or thoughts to feel the steady watcher behind them.
- Before reacting, ask whether your response comes from habit (the field) or from calm awareness (the knower).
Reflection Question
When do you notice the difference between the experience and the awareness that watches it?