BHAGAVAD-GITA 13:13

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 13:13

 

jneyam yat tat pravaksyami

yaj jnatvamrtam asnute

anadi mat-param brahma

na sat tan nasad ucyate

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

jneyam--the knowable; yat--which; tat--that; pravaksyami--I shall now

explain; yat--which; jnatva--knowing; amrtam--nectar; asnute--one

tastes; anadi--beginningless; mat-param--subordinate to Me;

brahma--spirit; na--neither; sat--cause; tat--that; na--nor;

asat--effect; ucyate--is said to be.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I shall now explain the knowable, knowing which you will taste the

eternal. Brahman, the spirit, beginningless and subordinate to Me,

lies beyond the cause and effect of this material world.

 

PURPORT

 

The Lord has explained the field of activities and the knower of the

field. He has also explained the process of knowing the knower of the

field of activities. Now He begins to explain the knowable, first the

soul and then the Supersoul. By knowledge of the knower, both the soul

and the Supersoul, one can relish the nectar of life. As explained in

the Second Chapter, the living entity is eternal. This is also

confirmed here. There is no specific date at which the jiva was born.

Nor can anyone trace out the history of the jivatma's manifestation

from the Supreme Lord. Therefore it is beginningless. The Vedic

literature confirms this: na jayate mriyate va vipascit (Katha

Upanisad 1.2.18). The knower of the body is never born and never dies,

and he is full of knowledge.

 

The Supreme Lord as the Supersoul is also stated in the Vedic

literature (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.16) to be pradhana-ksetrajna-patir

gunesah, the chief knower of the body and the master of the three

modes of material nature. In the smrti it is said, dasa-bhuto harer

eva nanyasvaiva kadacana. The living entities are eternally in the

service of the Supreme Lord. This is also confirmed by Lord Caitanya

in His teachings. Therefore the description of Brahman mentioned in

this verse is in relation to the individual soul, and when the word

Brahman is applied to the living entity, it is to be understood that

he is vijnana-brahma as opposed to ananda-brahma. Ananda-brahma is the

Supreme Brahman Personality of Godhead.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.