Chapter 13

Kshetra Kshetrajnya Vibhaga Yoga

Prakriti Purusha Viveka Yoga

Real Knowledge – Knowing the Whole – The Field and its Knower

The topics covered in Chapter 13 are:

1. Definition of the terms Prakriti, Purusha, Kshetra, Kshetrajnya, Jnyanam, and Jnyeyam.
2. Description of appearance of variety and multiplicity from ONE, unchanging reality.
3. Knowledge of the Whole – Knowledge of the Kshetra-Kshetragya (field and its knower) together, as ONE reality in all – the object of all knowledge.
4. Means of obtaining this knowledge of the whole.
5. Effect of pursuit of this knowledge.

Background

SriKrishna asked Arjuna to wake up from his ignorant perception of himself as a mortal being, rise up to his real nature as the eternal part of the eternal Purushottama, do his duty as Divine work, as an instrument of the Divine will, without any mental anguish, fear and doubt.  SriKrishna gave a detailed explanation of the jnyana-Vijnyana – spiritual and  objective knowledge needed to function in this manner (Chapters 2-12).  Chapter 13 and the rest of the Bhagavad Gita is a detailed explanation of some essential and important principles touched upon in the previous chapters.

CONTENTS

The human being is an aggregate of the perishable body – Deha (body-mind complex) and the imperishable Atman.   The same two entities with reference to the cosmos are called the changing Prakriti and the unchanging Purusha.  With reference to individual living beings they are referred to as the Kshetra – the ever changing field of experience and Kshetrajnya – the One, unchanging entity who experiences the field.  These two aspects can be easily understood as the insentient matter, and the sentient consciousness.  Both these are two aspects of the One reality, the consciousness present in and beyond both – called Brahman, Paramaatma, Purushottama.  Brahman expresses as all life forms and all life forces in the visible world.  To see all three realities (Deha, Atma and Paramaatma) together as ONE is the object of all knowledge – Jnyeya.   To live abiding in this awareness and perform all the duties, is the science of living a life to its full potential – Karma-Yoga Shastra.  Thus, one can live in the mortal body,  executing all actions as an immortal being, mind being in harmony with the Supreme Purushottama.  Arjuna was asked to act this way in the battle field and execute his bidding. BG 13:2-3.

Qualities of the mind one needs to develop to acquire the Knowledge of the Whole.

These qualities are also the result of the Knowledge of the  Whole.  Absence of these qualities is considered as ignorance.  They are:

• Absence of pride – Amaanitvam.
• Absence of pretense or arrogance or hypocrisy – Adambitvam.
• Harmlessness – Ahimsa.
• Glad acceptance – Kshanti.
• Straightforwardness – Arjavam.
• Service of preceptors – Acharyopaasana.
• Inner and outer purity – Shaucham.
• Tranquil firmness, steadfastness – Sthiryam.
• Self-control over lower nature of mind – Atmavinigrahah.
• Dispassion towards sense objects’ pleasure – Indriyaartheshu vairaagyam.
• Freedom from ego – Anahankaara.
• Keen perception of limitations of phenomenon of birth, death, aging, sickness and pain – Janma-mrityu-jaraa-vyaadhi-dukhah doshaanudarshanam.
• Absence of clinging by attachment – Asaktih.
• Absence of obsession over son, wife, home etc.  – Anabhishvangah putra daara grihaadishu.
• Equanimity to pleasant and unpleasant happenings – nityam cha samachittatvam ishtaanishtopapattishu.
• Having unswerving devotion to ME as not separate – Mayi cha ananyayogena bhaktiravyabhichaarinee.
• Meditative mind turned towards ME in solitude – Vivikta desha sevitvam.
• Not turning to vain noise and crowds – Aratirjanasamsadih.
• Always aware of the Philosophical  principles of existence – Adhyatma jnyana nityatvam.
• Constant adoration of eternal presence of the universal – Tattva jnyaanarthadarshanam.

Foundation of purposeful living is to understand the fundamental reality of existence.  Bhagavad Gita and all Vedic scriptures point to this fundamental reality as the consciousness pervading the visible universe and beyond.  The association of matter and consciousness gives rise to the innumerable variety of life forms and their innumerable abilities.  To see all these as the expression of ONE Supreme Being is the key to feel a sense of equality among all.   This awareness is also essential to use one’s abilities with a spirit of cooperation for one’s own highest Self-expression and for the benefit of society and nature.  This awareness leads to self-governance with an ability for proper discrimination of right and wrong acts.  Thus, one becomes responsible for one’s own actions and paves the way for progress toward the likeness of the Divine during the cycles of birth-death- rebirth.  BG 13: 13-22.

Wisdom of living in the mortal body as an immortal being.  BG 13:26-33.

• Every thing in the visible universe exists only because of presence of Divine in them.
• Only by seeing the presence of the unchanging entity at the death of beings, one sees the reality.
• By seeing the presence of the Divine in everything, one does not abuse his body or Atman and takes to Divine life.
• One who sees the Prakriti (changing aspect of the power of the Divine) as the doer of all works and his Self (Atman) as the inactive witness, is wise.
• One who perceives all the variety of beings contained in ONE eternal being and being projected from it, attains the supreme status.
• Because the eternal is without origin, not limited by qualities, the imperishable Supreme Self, though seated in the body, neither acts nor is affected by it.

Result of acquiring this wisdom.  BG:13:35-36.

SriKrishna sums up the message in the last two verses of this chapter thus:  Human being suffers because of the inevitable dualities encountered during life like pleasure-pain, success-failure, disease and death etc.  But when one turns to his reality as not limited by body and mind, can tap into the infinite energy and wisdom, always ready to manifest.  With such a mental attitude, the reasoning will be untainted and the necessary duties will be delivered with perfection.  Such a person attains the supreme status of being one with the Divine.

OM TAT SAT.

This concludes the Chapter Thirteen entitled  ‘Kshetra-kshetrajnya vibhaga Yoga‘ in the dialogue between SriKrishna and Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita Upanishad (Upanishad told by the Lord), on the Science of  Science of right Action (Yoga-Shastra), included in the Knowledge of Brahman (Brahma-Vidya).