Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field
Verse 13.17
अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम्।भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च।।13.17।।
avibhaktaṁ cha bhūteṣhu vibhaktam iva cha sthitam bhūta-bhartṛi cha taj jñeyaṁ grasiṣhṇu prabhaviṣhṇu cha
Word Meanings
avibhaktam—indivisible; cha—although; bhūteṣhu—amongst living beings; vibhaktam—divided; iva—apparently; cha—yet; sthitam—situated; bhūta-bhartṛi—the sustainer of all beings; cha—also; tat—that; jñeyam—to be known; grasiṣhṇu—the annihilator; prabhaviṣhṇu—the creator; cha—and
Translation · English
Undivided yet, It exists as if divided in beings; It is to be known as the supporter of beings; It devours and It generates.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Bhagavan Krishna addresses the central paradox of existence: how the Infinite One appears as the finite many. The Supreme Brahman is indivisible, yet within the manifest world, it presents itself as fragmented and distinct within every living entity. This is not a real division but an illusory one, akin to how the same sky appears partitioned by different architectural spaces. Understanding the Divine in this way shifts the seeker's perspective from a world of separate, competing entities to a singular reality underlying all forms. It reveals that the Knower of the Field (Kshetrajna) is the singular substrate supporting the dance of multiplicity. Furthermore, Krishna describes the Divine as the one who simultaneously sustains, dissolves, and creates the universe. This underscores that there is no moment where the creation is outside the Creator. The birth, maintenance, and destruction of all beings are merely the rhythms of the one Truth. By realizing this, the seeker transcends the fear of death and the pride of existence, recognizing that their very core is the eternal reality that breathes life into the entire cosmos.
The Divine is the seamless, indivisible reality that manifests as the appearance of multiplicity while eternally remaining the unified sustainer, creator, and dissolver of all that exists.
Connected Verses
Precedes this verse by explaining that the Divine is both inside and outside all beings, remaining indivisible despite appearing divided.
Articulates the mystery that while all beings are in the Divine, the Divine is not limited by them.
Describes how everything is strung upon the Divine like pearls on a thread, emphasizing unity amidst diversity.
Establishes the distinction between the ever-existent reality and the temporary nature of appearances.
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