The inner self becomes the witness, consent-giver, supporter, enjoyer, and great lord through its relation with the body. Yet in its true nature, it is called the supreme self and remains beyond the body.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 13.23
Hindi · हिन्दी
यह पुरुष प्रकृतिशरीर के साथ सम्बन्ध रखनेसे उपद्रष्टा, उसके साथ मिलकर सम्मति, अनुमति देनेसे अनुमन्ता, अपनेको उसका भरणपोषण करनेवाला माननेसे भर्ता, उसके सङ्गसे सुखदुःख भोगनेसे भोक्ता, और अपनेको उसका स्वामी माननेसे महेश्वर बन जाता है । परन्तु स्वरूपसे यह पुरुष परमात्मा कहा जाता है । यह देहमें रहता हुआ भी देहसे पर सम्बन्धरहित ही है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
उपद्रष्टाwitnessअनुमन्ताconsenterचandभर्ताsupporterभोक्ताenjoyerमहेश्वरःgreat lordपरमात्माsupreme selfइतिthusचandअपिalsoउक्तःcalledदेहेin the bodyअस्मिन्thisपुरुषःinner selfपरःbeyond
Read literallywitness · consenter · and · supporter · enjoyer · great lord · supreme self · thus · and · also · called · in the body · this · inner self · beyond
Understanding the verse
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Witness, permitter, supporter, enjoyer, great lord: Krishna lists the roles the self takes, and names it the supreme self.
The inner self seems to take on many roles because it is linked with the body, but in its true nature it remains beyond the body.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna turns to the deepest distinction in chapter 13. After describing the field and its knower, he explains how the inner self appears to become witness, consent-giver, supporter, enjoyer, and ruler only through body-identification.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A woman can be daughter, wife, manager and patient in one day, and each role feels like all of her. Krishna lists the roles the self appears to take through the body, then calls it the supreme self.
The takeaway
“You are not trapped by every role you play. Beneath them, there is something untouched.”
The inner self seems to take on many roles because it is linked with the body, but in its true nature it remains beyond the body.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 13.23?
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 13.23?
Verse 23 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 13.23 matter today?
A woman can be daughter, wife, manager and patient in one day, and each role feels like all of her. Krishna lists the roles the self appears to take through the body, then calls it the supreme self.
Witness, permitter, supporter, enjoyer, great lord: Krishna lists the roles the self takes, and names it the supreme self.
What this verse means
The inner self seems to take on many roles because it is linked with the body, but in its true nature it remains beyond the body.
Context & commentary
Krishna turns to the deepest distinction in chapter 13. After describing the field and its knower, he explains how the inner self appears to become witness, consent-giver, supporter, enjoyer, and ruler only through body-identification.
What it looks like today
A woman can be daughter, wife, manager and patient in one day, and each role feels like all of her. Krishna lists the roles the self appears to take through the body, then calls it the supreme self.
“You are not trapped by every role you play. Beneath them, there is something untouched.”
Explore related themes: prakriti (31 verses), kshetrajna (20 verses)