1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 13 - Kshetra Kshetrajna Yoga - Sloka 1

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Adidevananda's translation of Ramanuja's  Gita  Bhashya and Swami Chidbhavananda's Bhagavad Gita, both published by Ramakrishna Mission

In the first group of six chapters, the realisation of the real nature of the individual self as forming the ancillary to the worship of Bhagavan Vasudeva, the Supreme Brahman, the supreme object of attainment has been taught. It is also taught there, that it can be accomplished by two worthy paths, namely Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga. Next in the middle group of six chapters, intense and one-pointed devotion to Bhakti Yoga, preceded by the true knowledge of the Lord, the Supreme Goal and his glory, has been propounded. It was also taught in a secondary sense that Bhakti Yoga constitutes the means for those who wish for great sovereignty (aishwarya) and also for those who aspire after the state of isolation (Kaivalya) of the self.

In the next group of six chapters, the topics propounded in the first two groups are examined. These are: The attributes of the material body andof the self; the universe as the combination of these, the ruler his true nature, the real nature of karma, jnana and bhakti and the ways of practising these.

Now in the thirteenth chapter the following topics are discussed: (1) The nature of the body and the self (2) examination of the real nature of the body (3)the means for the attainment of the disembodied self (4)examination of the real nature of self in disembodied self; (5)the cause of association of such a self with matter, and (6) the mode of discriminating between the body and the self.

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 13 - Kshetra Kshetrajna Yoga - Sloka 1

The soul carried by the senses

Shri Bhagavan Uvacha

Idam shariram kaunteya kshetram iti abhidhiyate I

Etat yah vedati tam prahuh kshetrajna iti tad vidah II sloka 1

श्री भगवान उवाच 

इदम्  शरीरम् कौन्तेय क्षेत्रं इति अभिदियते I

एतत्  यः वेदति तम्  प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद् विदः II श्लोक 1 

The Lord said

This body, O Arjuna,  is called the Field or Kshetra. He who knows it is called the Kshetrajna, by the sages  who know the self.

The literal meaning of kshetra is that which is protected from perishing. The body of beings is called kshetra because it is saved from destruction to which it is prone. The word kshetra also means the field. It becomes increasingly productive to the extent it is improved. But its fertility provides scope for both corn and weed to thrive in it. Similarly, in the field of his body, man reaps the fruits of his good and bad karma. The body is therefore called the dharma kshetra of the jivatman. There is an intelligent principle that only resides in the body but also cognises and governs it. The sages designate this discerning principle as kshetrajna.

The human body may be compared to a pot. The mind, intellect and the senses are parallel to the water, rice and potato put into the pot placed on a hearth. within a while the pot gets heated and the water boils the rice and potato. The contentsthen  become too hot to be handled. This heat however, belongs to the fire and not just to the pot and its contents. Similarly it is the power of the Brahman that enlivens the body, mind, intellect and senses.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Are the countless kshetras and kshetrajnas in the universe linked  in any way? The enlightenment comes in the next slokas.