A core teaching · reflective in mood · a little context helps
“Clear seeing begins by separating the field from the one who knows it.”
Listen to the field, its nature, its changes, its source, and the knower of the field, along with that knower's powers, in brief.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
Read literallythat · the field · which · and · what sort · and · having what changes · from where · and · what · that · and · who · having what power · and · that · in brief · from me · hear
Krishna is about to explain, in brief, what the field is like, how it changes, where it comes from, and what the knower of the field is like.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga" (Field and Knower of the Field).
Verse 4 sits in Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita — Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga, "Field and Knower of the Field". The chapter has 35 verses in total.
You are staring at a decision that keeps changing shape: the facts, your mood, and your motives all blur together. This verse says to slow down and examine each layer clearly before you act.
Did you like this verse?
It shifts the mind from vague reaction to careful discrimination between what is changing and what is aware of it.
What this verse means
Krishna is about to explain, in brief, what the field is like, how it changes, where it comes from, and what the knower of the field is like.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is frozen and Krishna begins teaching the difference between the body-field and the knower within it. After naming that distinction, Krishna now promises a compact explanation of the field’s nature, changes, source, and the knower’s power.
Why this verse still matters
You are staring at a decision that keeps changing shape: the facts, your mood, and your motives all blur together. This verse says to slow down and examine each layer clearly before you act.
“You do not have to guess at reality; you can learn to examine it closely.”
Explore related themes: kshetrajna (20 verses), viveka (15 verses), kshetra (14 verses)