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Chapter 13 · Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness · 35 verses

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Krishna’s natureChapter 13 · Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness
13.1513.17

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 13.16

The supreme knower and all-pervading Supersoul

बहिरन्तश्च भूतानामचरं चरमेव च ।

सूक्ष्मत्वात्तदविज्ञेयं दूरस्थं चान्तिके च तत् ॥ १६ ॥

bahir antaś ca bhūtānām

acaraṁ caram eva ca

sūkṣmatvāt tad avijñeyaṁ

dūra-sthaṁ cāntike ca tat

Translation

The Supreme Truth exists outside and inside of all living beings, the moving and the nonmoving. Because He is subtle, He is beyond the power of the material senses to see or to know. Although far, far away, He is also near to all.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

The Supreme Is Always Near

  1. 1The Supreme Truth is inside and outside all beings, moving and nonmoving. He is beyond material senses, far away yet near to all.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Person can be seen and understood only through devotional service, not through material senses.
  3. 3Practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness through devotional service to purify your mind and senses and develop love for Him.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 13, Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness: the supreme knower and all-pervading supersoul.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Recognize Kṛṣṇa as the source of all.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: bhagavān, vibhūti.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 13.16 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to krishna’s nature?

Practice

Notice something excellent and see it as His opulence.

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The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 13 ›
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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 13.13The supreme knower and all-pervading SupersoulBG 13.14The supreme knower and all-pervading SupersoulBG 11.32Krishna reveals Himself as timeBG 11.51Composure returns in Krishna’s personal presence

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 13.16 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.