Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field
Verse 13.15
सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्।असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च।।13.15।।
sarvendriya-guṇābhāsaṁ sarvendriya-vivarjitam asaktaṁ sarva-bhṛich chaiva nirguṇaṁ guṇa-bhoktṛi cha
Word Meanings
sarva—all; indriya—senses; guṇa—sense-objects; ābhāsam—the perciever; sarva—all; indriya—senses; vivarjitam—devoid of; asaktam—unattached; sarva-bhṛit—the sustainer of all; cha—yet; eva—indeed; nirguṇam—beyond the three modes of material nature; guṇa-bhoktṛi—the enjoyer of the three modes of material nature; cha—although
Translation · English
Shining by the functions of all the senses, yet without being attached to them; unattached, yet supporting all; devoid of qualities, yet the experiencer of them.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Bhagavan Krishna articulates the nature of the Atman, the Knower of the Field (Kshetrajna), using paradoxical language to describe that which transcends dualistic perception. By stating that the Self appears to possess all sense functions while remaining completely devoid of them, Krishna reveals the foundational truth of Advaita: the Consciousness that illuminates the senses is not itself subjected to their limitations. It is the silent, unattached witness that sustains the entire theater of material existence without ever being stained by the roles played within it. This verse serves as a crucial bridge for the seeker, shifting their identity from the limited, sense-bound ego to the vast, attributeless awareness that remains fundamentally distinct from the changing phenomena of the field (Kshetra).
The ultimate Reality is the transcendent Witness that gives light to every sensory experience while remaining eternally free from the conditions and limitations of those experiences.
Connected Verses
It explains the relationship between the eternal individual spark of the Divine and the senses, affirming that the soul draws the senses into itself.
This clarifies the paradox of how the infinite Atman resides within a body without being tainted by it, much like the sun is not stained by the water it illuminates.
Provides the foundational context for the 'Knower of the Field' as having hands, feet, and eyes everywhere, paralleling the 'appearance' of sensory function described in 13.15.
This verse reinforces the idea that the Self is eternal, all-pervading, and immovable, thus echoing the concept of the unattached sustainer.
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