Chapter 13: The Yoga of the Field and the Knower

Verses (35)

1. 13.1

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

   Focus on understanding yourself, your environment, and your role before acting. Self-knowledge precedes effective leadership and wise decision-making.

2. 13.2

   श्री भगवानुवाचइदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते।एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदः।...

   Distinguish between the tools you use (your body, resources, systems) and the awareness that directs them. Effective leadership requires knowing yours...

3. 13.3

   क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत। क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम।।1...

   True wisdom lies in understanding both the situation itself and the observer within it—master self-awareness alongside situational awareness to lead e...

4. 13.4

   तत्क्षेत्रं यच्च यादृक् च यद्विकारि यतश्च यत्।स च यो यत्प्रभावश्च तत्समासेन मे श्रृणु।।13.4।।

   Master your domain by understanding its fundamental nature, dynamics, and underlying causes before making strategic decisions.

5. 13.5

   ऋषिभिर्बहुधा गीतं छन्दोभिर्विविधैः पृथक्।ब्रह्मसूत्रपदैश्चैव हेतुमद्भिर्विनिश्िचतैः।।13.5।।

   Focus on learning from multiple sources and perspectives—ancient wisdom, data, and logic all point toward the same truth. Trust convergent evidence.

6. 13.6

   महाभूतान्यहङ्कारो बुद्धिरव्यक्तमेव च।इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च पञ्च चेन्द्रियगोचराः।।13.6।।

   Master your mind and senses before managing external outcomes. Internal mastery precedes external success in leadership and decision-making.

7. 13.7

   इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं सङ्घातश्चेतनाधृतिः।एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन सविकारमुदाहृतम्।।13.7।।

   Master your inner landscape: awareness of desires, emotions, and physical reactions is the foundation for effective decision-making and resilience.

8. 13.8

   अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्।आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः।।13.8।।

   Master your fundamentals: stay humble, honest, disciplined, and committed to learning. These character traits build trust and enable sustainable leade...

9. 13.9

   इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यमनहङ्कार एव च।जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदुःखदोषानुदर्शनम्।।13.9।।

   Focus on what truly matters by releasing attachment to fleeting desires and ego. Recognize life's inevitable challenges as catalysts for growth, not o...

10. 13.10

    असक्ितरनभिष्वङ्गः पुत्रदारगृहादिषु।नित्यं च समचित्तत्वमिष्टानिष्टोपपत्तिषु।।13.10।।

    Focus on your work without clinging to outcomes. Maintain emotional balance whether results succeed or fail—this clarity enables better decisions.

11. 13.11

    मयि चानन्ययोगेन भक्ितरव्यभिचारिणी।विविक्तदेशसेवित्वमरतिर्जनसंसदि।।13.11।।

    Focus intently on your core purpose, maintain mental clarity through solitude, and avoid distractions from unproductive crowds to achieve meaningful r...

12. 13.12

    अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम्।एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोन्यथा।।13.12।।

    Know yourself deeply and align actions with your authentic purpose. Everything else distracts from what truly matters.

13. 13.13

    ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वाऽमृतमश्नुते।अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म न सत्तन्नासदुच्यते।।13.13।।

    Focus on understanding timeless principles beyond temporary circumstances. True success comes from grasping what transcends change, not from chasing f...

14. 13.14

    सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम्।सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति।।13.14।।

    True leadership requires omnipresent awareness—understanding every stakeholder's perspective, listening everywhere, and recognizing interconnectedness...

15. 13.15

    सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्।असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च।।13.15।।

    Lead by enabling others' potential without ego attachment. Remain impartial, support all perspectives, yet stay grounded in your core principles.

16. 13.16

    बहिरन्तश्च भूतानामचरं चरमेव च।सूक्ष्मत्वात्तदविज्ञेयं दूरस्थं चान्तिके च तत्।।13.16।।

    The most powerful forces in leadership are invisible yet omnipresent. Master what you cannot see—culture, intention, influence—to transform what you c...

17. 13.17

    अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम्।भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च।।13.17।।

    Everything appears separate but operates as one interconnected system. As a leader, recognize your role sustains, transforms, and creates within this ...

18. 13.18

    ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते।ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम्।।13.18।।

    True wisdom resides within you. Trust your inner clarity over external noise to guide authentic decisions and leadership.

19. 13.19

    इति क्षेत्रं तथा ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं चोक्तं समासतः।मद्भक्त एतद्विज्ञाय मद्भावायोपपद्यते।।13.19।।

    Understanding your work environment, how you learn, and what you're learning about builds mastery and excellence in any field.

20. 13.20

    प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्ध्यनादी उभावपि।विकारांश्च गुणांश्चैव विद्धि प्रकृतिसंभवान्।।13.20।।

    Understand that your core self is unchanging, while circumstances and emotions constantly shift. Lead from your stable inner foundation, not reactive ...

21. 13.21

    कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते।पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते।।13.21।।

    You control your responses to circumstances, not circumstances themselves. Master your inner reactions; external conditions follow naturally.

22. 13.22

    पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङ्क्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान्।कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु।।13.22।।

    Your circumstances reflect your choices and habits. By consciously managing your actions and associations, you shape your future outcomes and opportun...

23. 13.23

    उपद्रष्टाऽनुमन्ता च भर्ता भोक्ता महेश्वरः।परमात्मेति चाप्युक्तो देहेऽस्मिन्पुरुषः परः।।13.23।।

    Focus on the larger purpose beyond yourself. Great leaders recognize they're part of something greater, enabling wise decisions that serve the whole o...

24. 13.24

    य एवं वेत्ति पुरुषं प्रकृतिं च गुणैःसह।सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि न स भूयोऽभिजायते।।13.24।।

    Understanding your true nature and role transcends circumstances. Self-awareness and clarity about your purpose free you from repeating limiting patte...

25. 13.25

    ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना।अन्ये सांख्येन योगेन कर्मयोगेन चापरे।।13.25।।

    Different paths work for different people. Leaders succeed through reflection, analysis, or action. Honor your team's unique strengths rather than for...

26. 13.26

    अन्ये त्वेवमजानन्तः श्रुत्वाऽन्येभ्य उपासते।तेऽपि चातितरन्त्येव मृत्युं श्रुतिपरायणाः।।13.26।।

    Commit to continuous learning from trusted sources. Even secondhand knowledge, pursued with genuine dedication, transforms understanding and builds re...

27. 13.27

    यावत्सञ्जायते किञ्चित्सत्त्वं स्थावरजङ्गमम्।क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञसंयोगात्तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ।।13.27।।

    Everything that manifests in your organization—results, conflicts, culture—emerges from the interplay between circumstances and conscious awareness. M...

28. 13.28

    समं सर्वेषु भूतेषु तिष्ठन्तं परमेश्वरम्।विनश्यत्स्वविनश्यन्तं यः पश्यति स पश्यति।।13.28।।

    True leadership vision recognizes the enduring human potential within every team member, beyond temporary circumstances or roles.

29. 13.29

    समं पश्यन्हि सर्वत्र समवस्थितमीश्वरम्।न हिनस्त्यात्मनाऽऽत्मानं ततो याति परां गतिम्।।13.29।।

    When you recognize the equal worth in all people, you stop sabotaging yourself through ego and reach your highest potential.

30. 13.30

    प्रकृत्यैव च कर्माणि क्रियमाणानि सर्वशः।यः पश्यति तथाऽऽत्मानमकर्तारं स पश्यति।।13.30।।

    True leaders recognize that outcomes result from systemic forces and circumstances, not personal ego. This perspective builds humility, reduces blame,...

31. 13.31

    यदा भूतपृथग्भावमेकस्थमनुपश्यति।तत एव च विस्तारं ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा।।13.31।।

    Recognize that all people and perspectives stem from one shared source. This unity of vision transcends division and elevates your leadership beyond e...

32. 13.32

    अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्ययः।शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते।।13.32।।

    Your core integrity remains untouched by external circumstances. Lead decisively while staying grounded in unchanging principles, regardless of outcom...

33. 13.33

    यथा सर्वगतं सौक्ष्म्यादाकाशं नोपलिप्यते।सर्वत्रावस्थितो देहे तथाऽऽत्मा नोपलिप्यते।।13.33।।

    Your core integrity remains untouched by external chaos. Stay centered in your principles regardless of workplace turbulence or others' negativity.

34. 13.34

    यथा प्रकाशयत्येकः कृत्स्नं लोकमिमं रविः।क्षेत्रं क्षेत्री तथा कृत्स्नं प्रकाशयति भारत।।13.34।।

    Self-awareness illuminates all aspects of your life and work. Know yourself first; clarity about your inner nature guides every decision and action yo...

35. 13.35

    क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोरेवमन्तरं ज्ञानचक्षुषा।भूतप्रकृतिमोक्षं च ये विदुर्यान्ति ते परम्।।13.35।।

    Distinguish between what you control (your actions) and what you observe (external outcomes). This clarity liberates you to lead decisively without at...