Chapter 13 Verse 16
Kṣhetra Kṣhetrajña Vibhāg Yog
बहिरन्तश्च भूतानामचरं चरमेव च।सूक्ष्मत्वात्तदविज्ञेयं दूरस्थं चान्तिके च तत्।।13.16।।
bahir antaśh cha bhūtānām acharaṁ charam eva cha sūkṣhmatvāt tad avijñeyaṁ dūra-sthaṁ chāntike cha tat
Word Meanings
| bahiḥ | outside |
| antaḥ | inside |
| cha | and |
| bhūtānām | all living beings |
| acharam | not moving |
| charam | moving |
| eva | indeed |
| cha | and |
| sūkṣhmatvāt | due to subtlety |
| tat | he |
| avijñeyam | incomprehensible |
| dūra-stham | very far away |
| cha | and |
| antike | very near |
| cha | also |
| tat | he |
Translation
It is within and without all beings, both the unmoving and the moving; It is subtle and unknowable, and It is near and far away.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
The verse teaches that the same witnessing presence or consciousness is both inside and outside every living thing. It is found in what moves and what does not — in animals, plants, objects, and the still heart. Nothing is completely separate from this presence.
This presence is subtle and hard to fully know with the senses or the mind. At the same time it is both very near — right inside you — and very far — beyond ordinary understanding. That paradox invites humility: we cannot fully capture it, yet we can rely on it.
Spiritually, this means the sacred is not limited to temples or ideas. The inner witness connects all life, so recognizing it brings calm, respect, and clarity in daily choices.
Life Application
- When upset, pause and notice the quiet witness within you before reacting; this creates space for a kinder response.
- Treat people, animals, and even things with basic respect, remembering the same presence lives in all.
- Do your work fully but let go of tight attachment to outcomes, trusting the larger presence that pervades near and far.
Reflection Question
How would I act today if I truly felt the same inner presence in myself and in others?