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Bhagavad Gita 13.17

Chapter 13, Verse 17

Part of 13: Kṣhetra Kṣhetrajña Vibhāg Yogक्षेत्र-क्षेत्रज्ञविभागयोग

अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम्।भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च॥

Transliteration

avibhaktaṁ cha bhūteṣhu vibhaktam iva cha sthitam bhūta-bhartṛi cha taj jñeyaṁ grasiṣhṇu prabhaviṣhṇu cha

Meaning

Undivided yet, It exists as if divided in beings; It is to be known as the supporter of beings; It devours and It generates.

Word-by-word meaning
avibhaktamindivisiblechaalthoughbhūteṣhuamongst living beingsvibhaktamdividedivaapparentlychayetsthitamsituatedbhūta-bhartṛithe sustainer of all beingschaalsotatthatjñeyamto be knowngrasiṣhṇuthe annihilatorprabhaviṣhṇuthe creatorchaand
Commentary

Brahman must be regarded as That which supports, swallows up and also creates all beings, in the three forms of Brahma who creates the world of names anf forms? Vishnu who preserves or sustains, and Rudra who destroys. It is undivided in the various bodies. It is like ether. It is allpervding like space (Akasa). It is indivisible and the One, but It seems to divide Itself in forms and appears as all the separate existing things and beings. It is essentially unbroken. Yet? It is, as it were, divided among all beings. It devours this world during the cosmic dissolution. It generates it at the time of the origin of the next age. It supports all beings during the period of sustenance of this world. Just as fire is hidden in the wood, so also Brahman is hidden in all bodies. Just as the one space appears to be different through the limiting adjuncts (pot, house, etc.) so also the one indivisible Brahman appears to be different through the limiting adjuncts (the body, etc.). (Cf. XVIII.20)An objector says The knowable Brahman, the Knower of the field, is allpervading. It exists everywhere and yet It is not perceived. Therefore It must be of the nature of darkness or Tamas. The answer is No. It cannot be. What, then It is the Light of Lights.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 17?
Undivided yet, It exists as if divided in beings; It is to be known as the supporter of beings; It devours and It generates.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 17 of Chapter 13 (Kṣhetra Kṣhetrajña Vibhāg Yog — Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.