Gita Bhashya -Sankara 509

In the seventh chapter were indicated two Prakrtis (Forms) of the Lord (Iśvara)^[1]: one composed of the three gunas and divided eightfold, the inferior (Prakrti) by reason of its being the cause of samsāra; and the other, the superior (Prakrti), the principle of Self-Consciousness, namely the Ksetrajña, the Knower of the Ksetra (Matter i.e. body), being essentially one with the Lord. And, (it was stated that) possessed of these two Prakrtis the Lord becomes the cause of the origin, sustenance and dissolution of the universe^[2]. Now, this (present) chapter on Ksetra is commenced with a view, by way of describing the two Prakrtis designated as kfetra and Kfetrairia, to determining the true nature of Iśvara. the possessor of the two Prakrtis.

Besides, in the immediately preceding chapter, commencing from, "He who has no hatred to all creatures"^[3] and upto the end of the chapter, the state of sarhnyāsins, the knowers of Truth, that is to say, how they conduct themselves in life, has been described. The question arises: possessed of what (sort of) knowledge of the Truth do they become dear to the Lord, by following the course of conduct stated? For the purpose of setting this out also, this chapter is begun.

Prakrti, which is composed of the three gunas, transforms itself into all forms, the kārya (bodies), the karana (senses) and the visaya (sense-objects), and is combined in the form of the body, senses, etc., for the purpose of subserving the end of Purusa (the soul), namely enjoyment and liberation,. Such combination is this body; and referring to it.

[1]

[2]

[3]

	Introduction	2
1.	Arjuna visada yogah (Yoga of the Dejection of Arjuna)	6
2.	Saiukhya Yogah (Way of knowledge)	22
3.	Karma Yogah (Way of action)	96
4.	Jnana Karma Saninyasa Yogah (Way of renunciation of action in knowledge)	143
5.	Karmasaninyasa Yogah (Way of renunciation of action)	195
6.	Divyana Yogah (Way of meditation)	233
7.	Saptamo (A) Dhyayah Jnana-Vijnana-yogah (Way of knowledge with realisation)	288
8.	Taraka Brahma Yogah (Saving knowledge of Brahman)	319
9.	Raja-Vidya Raja-Guhya Yogah (Yoga of kingly knowledge and kingly secret)	348
10.	Vibhuti Yogah (Mode of Divine Glory)	385
11.	Visvarapa Darsanam (Vision of the Universal Form)	428
12.	Bhakti Yogah (Way of Devotion)	484
13.	Prakrti-Purusa-Viveka-Yogah (Way of Discriminating Matter and Spirit)	509
14.	Guna-Traya-Vibhaga Yogah (The Way of Discriminating the Three Gunas)	589
15.	Purusottama Yogah (Way to the Supreme Spirit)	621
16.	Daivasura-Sampat-Vibhaga-Yogah (The mode of Dividing Divine and Demminiac Properties)	649
17.	Sraddhaa-Traya-Vibhaga Yogah (The Mode of Division of the Three Kinds of Faith)	676
18.	Moksa-Samnyasa Yogah (The Yoga of Libera tion in Renunciation)	707

Gita Bhashya -Sankara 509

Contents

Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya

(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)

CHAPTER -13

References and Context

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