Chapter 13 Verse 24
Kṣhetra Kṣhetrajña Vibhāg Yog
य एवं वेत्ति पुरुषं प्रकृतिं च गुणैःसह।सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि न स भूयोऽभिजायते।।13.24।।
ya evaṁ vetti puruṣhaṁ prakṛitiṁ cha guṇaiḥ saha sarvathā vartamāno ’pi na sa bhūyo ’bhijāyate
Word Meanings
| yaḥ | who |
| evam | thus |
| vetti | understand |
| puruṣham | Puruṣh |
| prakṛitim | the material nature |
| cha | and |
| guṇaiḥ | the three modes of nature |
| saha | with |
| sarvathā | in every way |
| vartamānaḥ | situated |
| api | although |
| na | not |
| saḥ | they |
| bhūyaḥ | again |
| abhijāyate | take birth |
Translation
He who thus knows the Spirit and Matter together with their qualities, in whatever condition he may be, he is not reborn.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse says that when a person truly sees the difference between the eternal Self (the spirit) and matter (nature with its three qualities), they become free from rebirth. Knowing both—what you really are and how nature works—breaks the cycle of being born again.
The phrase "in whatever condition he may be" means that this knowledge is steady. Even while living a normal life, doing work and meeting challenges, the wise person stays rooted in the Self and is not carried away by birth-and-death patterns.
Practically, this knowledge means learning to watch thoughts, feelings, and body-states as activities of nature (the gunas), not as the true Self. That clear seeing brings inner freedom and reduces attachment, fear, and repetition of harmful patterns.
Life Application
- When you feel strong emotions or urges, pause and label them (thought, anger, desire) so you do not automatically identify as them.
- Do your daily duties fully, but let go of clinging to outcomes—focus on right action, not on reward or loss.
- Spend a little time each day in quiet self-observation or simple meditation to strengthen the sense of the witnessing Self.
Reflection Question
Can I notice my changing thoughts and feelings as happening in me, rather than believing I am those changes?