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

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Soul & knowledgeChapter 13 · Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness
13.3313.35

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 13.34

Seeing rightly the body, soul and the Supreme

यथा प्रकाशयत्येक: कृत्स्‍नं लोकमिमं रवि: ।

क्षेत्रं क्षेत्री तथा कृत्स्‍नं प्रकाशयति भारत ॥ ३४ ॥

yathā prakāśayaty ekaḥ

kṛtsnaṁ lokam imaṁ raviḥ

kṣetraṁ kṣetrī tathā kṛtsnaṁ

prakāśayati bhārata

Translation

O son of Bharata, as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

The Soul and Consciousness

  1. 1As one sun lights the universe, the soul lights the whole body with consciousness.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that consciousness proves the soul’s presence; it is not produced by matter.
  3. 3The individual soul is conscious of one body, but the Supersoul, the soul’s friend, is conscious of all bodies.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 13, Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness: seeing rightly the body, soul and the supreme.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Discern the eternal self from the temporary.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 13.34 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?

Practice

Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.

4

The story behind it

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

All stories for chapter 13 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 13.28Seeing rightly the body, soul and the SupremeBG 13.29Seeing rightly the body, soul and the SupremeBG 2.13The self endures bodily changeBG 4.34The humility of real inquiry

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

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Ask about BG 13.34 — 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.