Sacred verse

Bhagavad Gita 13.15BG 13.15 · Chapter 13, Verse 15

Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga · Verse 15

A declaration · expansive in mood · builds on earlier teachings

What sustains everything is beyond the senses that perceive it.

The verse
सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्
असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ

The supreme reality has no senses, yet illumines every sense-object. It is detached, supports all beings, beyond the three qualities, and yet experiences the qualities.

Krishna
Bhagavad Gita · 13.15
Hindi · हिन्दी
वे परमात्मा सम्पूर्ण इन्द्रियोंसे रहित हैं और सम्पूर्ण इन्द्रियोंके विषयोंको प्रकाशित करनेवाले हैं आसक्तिरहित हैं और सम्पूर्ण संसारका भरणपोषण करनेवाले हैं तथा गुणोंसे रहित हैं और सम्पूर्ण गुणोंके भोक्ता हैं ॥
Word by word

The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.

सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासम्shining through the qualities of all sensesसर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम्devoid of all sensesअसक्तम्unattachedसर्वभृत्supporter of allandएवindeedनिर्गुणम्without qualitiesगुणभोक्तृenjoyer of qualitiesand

Read literallyshining through the qualities of all senses · devoid of all senses · unattached · supporter of all · and · indeed · without qualities · enjoyer of qualities · and

Understanding the verse

It shifts attention from visible form to the unseen presence that makes all form possible.

In plain words

What this verse means

The supreme being has no senses, yet makes all perception possible. It is free from attachment, sustains everything, stands beyond the three qualities, and still experiences them all.

On the battlefield

Context & commentary

On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is still stunned by Krishna's teaching about the field and the knower of the field. Krishna now describes the supreme reality in paradox: beyond bodily senses, yet the source of all experience; beyond qualities, yet present to all qualities.

In your life

Why this verse still matters

You sit in a hospital corridor, unable to fix the outcome. Something larger than your control is still holding the whole scene together.

The takeaway

You are held by what is beyond grasping. That can bring quiet trust.

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Krishna on the field and the knower of the field
Chapter 13 · Field and Knower of the Field
Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga
35 verses
Read all verses in this chapter →

Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses), kshetrajna (20 verses), indriya (19 verses)

Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 13.15 mean?

The supreme being has no senses, yet makes all perception possible. It is free from attachment, sustains everything, stands beyond the three qualities, and still experiences them all.

Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 13.15?

Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga" (Field and Knower of the Field).

Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 13.15?

Verse 15 sits in Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita — Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga, "Field and Knower of the Field". The chapter has 35 verses in total.

Why does Bhagavad Gita 13.15 matter today?

You sit in a hospital corridor, unable to fix the outcome. Something larger than your control is still holding the whole scene together.

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