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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Explanation & Life Application

This verse from Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita highlights a practical insight: 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.

In The Yoga of the Field and Knower (Ksetra Ksetrajna Vibhaga Yoga), Krishna explains Understanding the body (field) and the soul (knower of the field).

— Explained by the Nitya Team

Chapter Context

Understanding the body (field) and the soul (knower of the field).

Key themes in this chapter include Body and soul, Knowledge, Nature.

When to Apply This Verse

  • •When you need steadiness while dealing with body and soul
  • •When practicing knowledge amid uncertainty
  • •When applying nature to real-life choices

Verse FAQs

What is the main idea of Bhagavad Gita 13.21?
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 emphasizes body and soul with clarity and purpose.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 13.21 in daily life?
Apply this teaching when making choices or doing your duties. Focus on knowledge and keep your mind steady regardless of outcomes.

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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← Back to Chapter 13: The Yoga of the Field and Knower

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