Bhagavad Gita BG 13.3
Chapter 13, Verse 3 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत । क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम ॥
kshetra-jnam capi mam viddhi sarva-kshetreshu bharata kshetra-kshetrajna-yor jnanam yat taj jnanam matam mama
Meaning
And know Me also as the Knower of the Field in all fields, O Bharata. Knowledge of the Field and the Knower of the Field — that, I consider to be true knowledge.
Understanding
The central declaration of Ch13's metaphysics: kshetra-jnam capi mam viddhi sarva-kshetreshu (know Me as the Kshetrajna in ALL fields — every body, every mind). The Knower of the Field is not a separate soul per body; the ONE Consciousness (Krishna/Brahman) is the Knower in every field simultaneously. And: kshetra-kshetrajna-yor jnanam (knowledge of BOTH field and Knower) = true knowledge. Not knowing one alone — knowing the field without Consciousness is materialism; knowing Consciousness without understanding what the field is leads to incomplete insight. True knowledge integrates both.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| क्षेत्रज्ञम् | kshetra-jnam | Knower of the Field, the Consciousness that knows |
| सर्वक्षेत्रेषु | sarva-kshetreshu | in all fields — in every body/mind/world |
| मतं मम | matam mama | considered by Me, My view, My teaching |
| क्षेत्र-ज्ञम् | kṣetra-jñam | the knower of the field |
| च | cāpi | and also |
| माम् | mām | Me |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know, understand |
| सर्व-क्षेत्रेषु | sarva-kṣetreṣu | in all fields (bodies) |
| भारत | bhārata | O descendant of Bharata |
| क्षेत्र-क्षेत्रज्ञयोः | kṣetra-kṣetrajñayoḥ | of the field and the knower of the field |
| ज्ञानम् | jñānam | knowledge |
| यत् | yat tat | which that |
| मतम् | matam | is the opinion, is considered |
| मम | mama | My |