Nature, the Enjoyer, and Consciousness

Theme and purpose

Nature, the enjoyer and consciousness: Upon Arjuna's inquiry Kṛṣṇa explains six topics: (i) kṣetra – field of activities or body; (ii) kṣetra-jñam – knowers of body, the soul and Kṛṣṇa; (iii) jñānaṁ – 20 elements of knowledge; (iv) jñeyaṁ – objects of knowledge, soul and Supersoul; (v) prakṛti – material nature; (vi) puruṣa – jīva and Lord. A true seer has the right vision of jīva, prakṛti and Paramātmā.

How this chapter connects

Sections and key teachings

1. 13.1 Arjuna’s Six Questions
2. 13.2–7 Kṛṣṇa Describes Kṣetra, Kṣetrajña and Jñānaṁ (A3, A4 & A5)
   3 subsections

   • 13.2–3 Kṣetra is body; Kṣetra-jña is both soul and Kṛṣṇa; jñānam is perfect knowledge
   • 13.4–5 Kṛṣṇa promises to explain six topics about kṣetra and kṣetrajña and quotes authorities
   • 13.6–7 The composition, qualities, changes and origin of the body (kṣetra)
3. 13.8–12 Jñānaṁ – Process of Acquiring Knowledge (A5)
4. 13.13–19 Jñeyaṁ – Object of Knowledge (A6)
5. 13.20–26 Prakrti, Puruṣa and Their Union (A1, A2)
   4 subsections

   • 13.20–22 Prakṛti (nature) and puruṣa (jīva) are eternal; Prakṛti causes all material causes and effects. Jīva associates with modes, changes bodies and causes his own happiness and distress.
   • 13.23 Supersoul is the real puruṣa
   • 13.24 Knowing prakṛti, puruṣa and guṇas, one attains liberation.
   • 13.25–26 Different methods of liberation
6. 13.27–35 Jñāna-cakṣu – The Vision of Knowledge
   3 subsections

   • 13.27 Every entity is a combination of prakṛti and puruṣa
   • 13.28–31 A true seer’s vision of jīva, prakṛti and Paramātma
   • 13.32–35 The non-doership of the soul

All verses

13.1

• 13.1–2

13.2–7

• 13.3
• 13.4
• 13.5
• 13.6–7

13.8–12

• 13.8–12

13.13–19

• 13.13
• 13.14
• 13.15
• 13.16
• 13.17
• 13.18
• 13.19

13.20–26

• 13.20
• 13.21
• 13.22
• 13.23
• 13.24
• 13.25
• 13.26

13.27–35

• 13.27
• 13.28
• 13.29
• 13.30
• 13.31
• 13.32
• 13.33
• 13.34
• 13.35