Chapter 13, Verse 1
अर्जुन उवाच | प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञमेव च | एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामि ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं च केशव ॥1॥
arjuna uvāca | prakṛtiṃ puruṣaṃ caiva kṣetraṃ kṣetrajñam eva ca | etad veditum icchāmi jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ ca keśava
"Arjuna said: O Keshav, I wish to understand what are prakṛiti (nature) and puruṣha (the enjoyer), and what are kshetra (the field) and kshetrayajna (the knower of the field)? I also wish to know what is true knowledge, and what is the goal of this knowledge?"
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 13.1 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 13.1 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
This verse marks the beginning of the 'Kshetra-Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga'. Arjuna asks six fundamental questions about the nature of reality: 1. Prakriti (Material Nature), 2. Purusha (Conscious Entity), 3. Kshetra (The Field/Body), 4. Kshetrajna (The Knower of the Field), 5. Jnanam (Knowledge), and 6. Jneyam (The Object of Knowledge). These concepts form the bedrock of the distinction between matter and spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 13.1?
Arjuna said: O Keshav, I wish to understand what are prakṛiti (nature) and puruṣha (the enjoyer), and what are kshetra (the field) and kshetrayajna (the knower of the field)? I also wish to know what is true knowledge, and what is the goal of this knowledge?