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bhagavad-gitagitakrishnakshetra-kshetrajna-vibhaga-yoga

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍀𑌤𑌾 ௧௩.௨ — 𑌇𑌦𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍗𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌯

Bhagavad Gita 13.2 — Idam Shariram Kaunteya (Kshetra-Kshetrajna) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Morning meditation, or during self-inquiry and contemplative study·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 2
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 2 · Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva) · Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)

The thirteenth chapter, the Yoga of the Distinction between the Field and its Knower (Kshetra-Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga), turns from action and devotion to pure knowledge. In its opening teaching, Krishna defines the body as the 'field' and the conscious self as its 'knower', laying the groundwork for the discriminative wisdom by which the soul is realized as distinct from the body.

✦ As told in scripture

Teachers of Vedanta have long used this single distinction — field and knower — as the doorway to liberation; many seekers recount that simply holding to the truth 'I am the knower, not the field' dissolved long-standing fear of death and revealed an unshakeable inner peace.

The Mantra

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𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌾𑌚 𑌇𑌦𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌂 𑌕𑍗𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌯 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌭𑌿𑌧𑍀𑌯𑌤𑍇। 𑌏𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌵𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌹𑍁𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍍𑌞 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌃॥

śhrī-bhagavān uvācha idaṁ śharīraṁ kaunteya kṣhetram ity abhidhīyate etad yo vetti taṁ prāhuḥ kṣhetra-jña iti tad-vidaḥ

Meaning:The Blessed Lord said: O Arjuna, this body is called the field (kshetra); and one who knows this is called the knower of the field (kshetrajna) by those who understand the truth.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌾𑌚🔊śhrī-bhagavān uvāchathe Supreme Divine Lord said
𑌇𑌦𑌮𑍍🔊idamthis
𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊śharīrambody
𑌕𑍗𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌯🔊kaunteyaO son of Kunti (Arjuna)
𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍🔊kṣhetramthe field (of activities)
𑌇𑌤𑌿🔊itithus
𑌅𑌭𑌿𑌧𑍀𑌯𑌤𑍇🔊abhidhīyateis termed, is called
𑌏𑌤𑌤𑍍🔊etatthis
𑌯𑌃🔊yaḥone who
𑌵𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊vettiknows
𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊tamthat person
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌹𑍁𑌃🔊prāhuḥis called, they say
𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃🔊kṣhetra-jñaḥthe knower of the field
𑌇𑌤𑌿🔊itithus
𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌃🔊tat-vidaḥthose who discern the truth, the knowers

Benefits of Chanting Bhagavad Gita 13.2 — Idam Shariram Kaunteya (Kshetra-Kshetrajna)

✦

Establishes the foundational discrimination between body (field) and Self (knower)

✦

Awakens self-knowledge — the realization that we are the witnessing consciousness

✦

Brings detachment and peace by loosening identification with the changing body

✦

Provides a clear framework for meditation and inner inquiry

✦

Reduces fear and grief by revealing the deathless knower behind the perishable field

✦

Guides the seeker toward the wisdom that liberates (kshetra-kshetrajna jnana)

How to Chant Bhagavad Gita 13.2 — Idam Shariram Kaunteya (Kshetra-Kshetrajna)

Repetitions11times
Best TimeMorning meditation, or during self-inquiry and contemplative study

Chant this verse as the opening of a contemplation on 'Who am I?' As you recite 'kshetram' (the field) and 'kshetrajna' (the knower), let the mind distinguish between the body and experiences on one side, and the silent awareness that knows them on the other. Use it before meditation to settle into your identity as the witnessing knower, abiding peacefully behind all that is seen and felt.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Bhagavad Gita 13.2 — Idam Shariram Kaunteya (Kshetra-Kshetrajna) written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.
Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.
Krishna introduces the key distinction of the thirteenth chapter: the body is the 'field' (kshetra), and the conscious self who knows the body is the 'knower of the field' (kshetrajna). The verse begins the teaching of self-knowledge by separating the experienced from the experiencer.
The kshetra is the body along with the mind, senses and all that is perceived — the arena of experience. The kshetrajna is the conscious self, the witness who is aware of the field. The wisdom of discriminating between the two is the heart of this chapter.
Because liberation begins when we stop identifying with the perishable body and recognize ourselves as the deathless knower. This discrimination dissolves fear, grief and attachment, and forms the basis of meditation, self-inquiry and the knowledge that leads to freedom.
Throughout the day, gently notice the difference between what you experience (sensations, thoughts, the body — the field) and the awareness that knows them (the knower). Chanting this verse strengthens that discrimination, bringing detachment, steadiness and inner peace.

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