Bhagavad Gita 13.34यथा प्रकाशयत्येकः कृत्स्नं लोकमिमं रविः।क्षेत्रं क्षेत्री तथा कृत्स्नं प्रकाशयति भारत ॥
yathā prakāśhayaty ekaḥ kṛitsnaṁ lokam imaṁ raviḥ
kṣhetraṁ kṣhetrī tathā kṛitsnaṁ prakāśhayati bhārata
Sanskrit recitation
Matter, spirit, and freedom · 13.19–13.35 · Teaching
Translation
Just as the one sun illuminates the entire world, so too does the Lord of the field (Supreme Self) illuminate the entire field, O Arjuna.
Hindi translation
हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन ! जैसे एक ही सूर्य सम्पूर्ण संसारको प्रकाशित करता है, ऐसे ही क्षेत्री (क्षेत्रज्ञ, आत्मा) सम्पूर्ण क्षेत्रको प्रकाशित करता है।
Meaning
The Supreme Self is one. It illumines the whole matter from the Unmanifested down to the blade of grass or a lump of clay, from the great elements down to firmness or fortitude. (Cf. verses 5 and 6.) Just as the sun is one, just as the sun illumines the whole world, just as the sun is not tainted, so also the Self is One in all bodies, It illumines all the bodies and It is not contaminated.
After Swami Sivananda
Matter, spirit, and freedom· 13.19–13.35→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 13.19Thus, the field, as well as knowledge and the knowable, have been briefly stated. My…
- 13.20Know that Nature (matter) and the Spirit are both beginningless, and know also that all…
- 13.21In the production of the effect and the cause, Nature (matter) is said to be the cause; in…
- 13.22The soul seated in Nature experiences the qualities born of Nature; attachment to the…
- 13.23The Supreme Soul in this body is also called the observer, the permitter, the sustainer,…
- 13.24He who thus knows the Spirit and Matter together with their qualities, in whatever…
- 13.25Some behold the Self within themselves through meditation, others through the Yoga of…
- 13.26Others, too, who do not know thus, worship, having heard of It from others; they, too,…
- 13.27Wherever a being is born, whether unmoving or moving, know thou, O best of the Bharatas…
- 13.28He who sees the Supreme Lord existing truly in all beings, the imperishable within the…
- 13.29For he who truly sees the same Lord dwelling everywhere does not destroy the Self by the…
- 13.30He sees, who sees that all actions are performed solely by Nature and that the Self is…
- 13.31When a person sees all beings as resting in the One and emanating from the One alone, they…
- 13.32Being without beginning, devoid of any qualities, the Supreme Self, imperishable, though…
- 13.33As the all-pervading ether is not tainted, due to its subtlety, so the Self seated…
13.34Just as the one sun illuminates the entire world, so too does the Lord of the field…
- 13.35They who, by the eye of knowledge, perceive the distinction between the field and its…
Word-by-word→
- imam
- this
- lokam
- solar system
- ekaḥ
- one
- tathā
- so
- yathā
- as
- raviḥ
- sun
- bhārata
- Arjun, the son of Bharat
- kṛitsnam
- entire
- kṣhetram
- the body
- kṣhetrī
- the soul
- prakāśhayati
- illumine
Themes
Related verses
- 13.2The Blessed Lord said, "O Arjuna, this body is called the field; he who knows it is called…
- 5.14Neither does the Lord create agency nor actions for the world, nor union with the fruits…
- 14.25Who is the same in honor and dishonor, the same to friend and foe, abandoning all…
- 15.20Thus, I have imparted to you this most secret science, O sinless one; by knowing this, one…