Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 Summary – Kshetra Kshetragya Yoga: Body, Soul & the Supreme Knower

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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 – Kshetra Kshetragya Yoga (The Field and the Knower)

Introduction:

In Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjun asks about the nature of the body (Kshetra), the soul (Kshetragya), and the knower of all (Supreme Soul). The speaker, who is Kaal (as revealed in 11.32), begins to explain these three entities.

This chapter is one of the most spiritually rich in the Gita because it clearly distinguishes the speaker (Kaal) from the Supreme Soul (Paramatma). Yet, Kaal avoids identifying the Supreme God by name—because He is someone other than himself.

Chapter 13 Summary in Simple English:

Kshetra means the field—i.e., the physical body.
Kshetragya means the soul—i.e., the one who experiences life within the body.
The real knower of all bodies (not just one) is the Supreme Soul, also referred to as Paramatma.

Kaal (the speaker) admits that while he is explaining these concepts, he is not the Supreme Soul who is present in all bodies as the ultimate knower. This is a vital revelation.

Key Concepts in Chapter 13:

Three Distinct Entities:
- The body (kshetra),
- The individual soul (kshetragya),
- And the Supreme Soul, who knows all fields (kshetras) simultaneously.
Kaal Is Not Supreme God:
- In this chapter, the speaker clearly differentiates himself from the Supreme Soul.
- He gives theoretical knowledge but withholds the identity and name of the Supreme God.
Supreme God Exists:
- The Supreme God is omniscient and is the true liberator.
- Kaal avoids disclosing that He is Param Akshar Brahm, as confirmed in Gita 15.17.

Gita 13.1–2 – Arjun asks about kshetra (body) and kshetragya (knower). Gita 13.3 – The speaker says: "Understand Me also to be the kshetragya in all kshetras." However, this contradicts Gita 15.17, where a different Supreme being is described.

Gita 15.17 – “The Supreme God is different from both the perishable (worldly beings) and imperishable (Kaal); He is called Param Akshar Brahm.”

These contradictions reveal that the speaker is not the Supreme God, but someone subordinate—Kaal, the master of 21 universes.

Deep Insight from Tatvagyan (by Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj):

According to the eternal spiritual knowledge given by Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj, this chapter subtly reveals the hierarchy:

Kshetra – the body (created by Prakriti/Durga).
Kshetragya – the soul trapped in the cycle of birth and death.
Supreme Kshetragya – Param Akshar Brahm (God Kabir), who knows all fields and is the true liberator.

Kaal gives incomplete knowledge. He does not reveal Saarnaam or Saarshabd, nor does he encourage worship of Param Akshar Brahm. Instead, in Gita 4.34, he directs the soul toward a Tatvadarshi Saint who holds the key to full knowledge and liberation.

⚠️ Conclusion:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 exposes one of the most important truths: ➡️ Kaal is not the Supreme God. ➡️ He describes the body and soul but leaves out the complete identity of the Supreme Kshetragya, i.e., Param Akshar Brahm.

Only through the guidance of a Tatvadarshi Saint (Gita 4.34) and chanting true mantras (Om Tat Sat – Gita 17.23) can a soul recognize the Supreme Soul and attain moksha (liberation).

️ FAQs:

Q1: Who is the Supreme Soul mentioned in Chapter 13? A1: The Supreme Soul is Param Akshar Brahm (Supreme God Kabir), not the speaker of Gita.

Q2: Is the speaker claiming to be the Supreme God? A2: No. The speaker (Kaal) distinguishes himself from the Supreme Soul in this chapter.

Q3: How can one attain the Supreme God? A3: By taking refuge in a Tatvadarshi Saint (Gita 4.34) and receiving true spiritual knowledge.