The Yoga of Field and Knower

अर्जुन उवाच। प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञमेव च। एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं च केशव॥

Arjuna said: O Keshava, I wish to know about Prakriti (Nature) and Purusha (the Soul), the field and the knower of the field, knowledge and the object of knowledge.

श्रीभगवानुवाच। इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते। एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः॥

The Supreme Lord said: This body, O son of Kunti, is called the field. One who knows this is called the knower of the field by those who know.

क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत। क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम॥

Know Me also as the knower in all fields, O Bharata. The knowledge of both the field and the knower — that I consider true knowledge.

तत्क्षेत्रं यच्च यादृक्च यद्विकारि यतश्च यत्। स च यो यत्प्रभावश्च तत्समासेन मे शृणु॥

Hear from Me briefly what that field is, what its nature is, what its modifications are, from what it arises, who the knower is, and what his powers are.

ऋषिभिर्बहुधा गीतं छन्दोभिर्विविधैः पृथक्। ब्रह्मसूत्रपदैश्चैव हेतुमद्भिर्विनिश्चितैः॥

This knowledge has been sung by sages in various ways, in various Vedic hymns, and especially in the well-reasoned conclusions of the Brahma Sutras.

महाभूतान्यहंकारो बुद्धिरव्यक्तमेव च। इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च पञ्च चेन्द्रियगोचराः॥

The five great elements, ego, intellect, the unmanifest, the ten senses and one (mind), and the five objects of the senses...

इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं सङ्घातश्चेतना धृतिः। एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन सविकारमुदाहृतम्॥

...desire, aversion, pleasure, pain, the aggregate body, consciousness, and fortitude — this is the field described briefly with its modifications.

अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्। आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः॥

Humility, unpretentiousness, non-violence, forgiveness, straightforwardness, service to the teacher, purity, steadiness, self-control...

इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यमनहंकार एव च। जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखदोषानुदर्शनम्॥

...detachment from sense objects, absence of ego, perceiving the evils of birth, death, old age, disease, and suffering...

असक्तिरनभिष्वङ्गः पुत्रदारगृहादिषु। नित्यं च समचित्तत्वमिष्टानिष्टोपपत्तिषु॥

...non-attachment, non-identification with son, wife, home and the like, constant equanimity amid pleasant and unpleasant events...

मयि चानन्ययोगेन भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी। विविक्तदेशसेवित्वमरतिर्जनसंसदि॥

...unwavering devotion to Me through exclusive yoga, preference for solitude, distaste for crowds...

अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्। एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोऽन्यथा॥

...constancy in self-knowledge, perception of the purpose of true knowledge — this is declared to be knowledge. What is contrary to this is ignorance.

ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते। अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म न सत्तन्नासदुच्यते॥

I shall now describe that which is to be known, knowing which one attains immortality — the beginningless Supreme Brahman, said to be neither being nor non-being.

सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम्। सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति॥

With hands and feet everywhere, eyes, heads, and faces everywhere, with ears everywhere — That exists pervading all.

सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्। असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च॥

Reflecting the functions of all senses yet without senses, unattached yet supporting all, free from the gunas yet experiencing them.