Bhagavad Gita -Srila Prabhupada 556

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is -Shri Shrimad A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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Nature, the Enjoyer, and Consciousness
Chapter 13: Verse-13

jneyam yat tat pravaksyämi yaj jnätvämrtamasnute
anädi mat-param brahma na sat tan näsad ucyate [1]

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 upersoul, 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 jivätmä’s manifestation from the Supreme Lord. Therefore it is beginningless. The Vedic literature confirms this: na jäyate mriyate vä vipascit[2]. 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 [3] to be pradhäna-ksetrajna-patir guëesah, the chief knower of the body and the master of the three modes of material nature. In the smrti it is said, däsa-bhüto harer eva nänyasvaiva kadäcana. 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 vijïäna-brahma as opposed to änanda-brahma. Änanda-brahma is the Supreme Brahman Personality of Godhead.

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References

  1. jneyam=the knowable; yat=which; tat=that; pravaksyämi=I shall now explain; yat=which; jnätvä=knowing; amrtam=nectar; asnute=one tastes; anädi=beginningless; mat-param=subordinate to Me; brahma=spirit; na=neither; sat=cause; tat=that; na=nor; asat=effect; ucyate=is said to be.
  2. Katha Upanisad 1.2.18
  3. Svetäsvatara Upanisad 6.16

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