Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13 Verse 21 Meaning
In the production of the effect and the cause, Nature (matter) is said to be the cause; in the experience of pleasure and pain, the soul is said to be the one responsible.
BG 13.21
कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते।पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते
kārya-kāraṇa-kartṛitve hetuḥ prakṛitir uchyate puruṣhaḥ sukha-duḥkhānāṁ bhoktṛitve hetur uchyate
Meaning
In the production of the effect and the cause, Nature (matter) is said to be the cause; in the experience of pleasure and pain, the soul is said to be the one responsible.
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What Does Bhagavad Gita 13.21 Mean?
In the production of the effect and the cause, Nature (matter) is said to be the cause; in the experience of pleasure and pain, the soul is said to be the one responsible. This verse from Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga speaks directly to the theme of nature and spirit, offering insight that deepens our understanding of the Gita's teaching. The verse operates on multiple levels. On the surface, it addresses Arjuna's immediate situation.
At a deeper level, it articulates a universal principle about knowledge that applies to every person navigating the complexities of moral and spiritual life. For the modern practitioner, this verse suggests a concrete experiment: approach today's responsibilities with the awareness this teaching describes. The Gita's promise is that even imperfect practice in the right direction yields real results.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 13.21?
Understanding the body (field) and the soul (knower of the field).
Key themes in this chapter include Body and soul, Knowledge, Nature.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 13.21 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with body and soul
- •When practicing knowledge amid uncertainty
- •When applying nature to real-life choices
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Related Verses
BG 13.2
The Blessed Lord said, "O Arjuna, this body is called the field; he who knows it is called the knower of the field by those who know them."
BG 13.8
Humility, unpretentiousness, non-injury, forgiveness, uprightness, service to the teacher, purity, steadfastness, and self-control.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
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