Devotee: "O scion of Bharata, you should also understand that I am also the knower in all bodies and to understand this body and its owner is called knowledge. That is my opinion."
Prabhupada: So Arjuna inquired from Krsna six things: ksetra, ksetrajna, prakrti, purusa, jnanam, jneyam. What is knowledge and what is the object of knowledge. Jnanam jneyam. Ksetra, field of activities, ksetrajna, the worker on that field, ksetra, ksetrajna, and prakrti, nature, and the purusa. Material nature and purusa means the enjoyer. Six question. Of course Bhagavad-gita is each and every word and letter is full of knowledge. But these six inquiries, if actually can understand the six items, he becomes the perfect knower. That is said by Krsna: yat taj jnanam matam mama. Jnanam means knowledge. So if anyone can understand the six items, then he is in full knowledge.
Yat taj jnanam matam mama. "You have asked me, Arjuna..." And bhagavan uvaca, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead speaking. Not only speaking, He says, just like a gentleman... Whatever He says is perfect but still He says, "This is My opinion." "This is My opinion." Now my opinion you can take or not take, that is up to you. But who can give better opinion than Krsna? That is another knowledge. Why Krsna? Arjuna is asking Krsna. Because in the beginning he has said that "Nobody can make solution of my problem. You are the best." So following the footsteps of Arjuna, if we accept Krsna's words, not blindly but with good logic, good scientific research, if we actually try to understand what Krsna speaks, then all our problems are solved.
Now in the previous verse, sri bhagavan uvaca. Vyasadeva could have said "krsna uvaca," Krsna said. No. He has purposefully said "bhagavan." Krsna, you may not like, but He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan, with six opulences. One of the opulence is full knowledge. Aisvaryasya samagrasya viryasya yasasah sriyah jnanam. Krsna is complete in knowledge. Sarvajnam. Janmady asya yatah anvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah [SB 1.1.1]. God means abhijnah. He knows everything. You cannot hide anything from God. That is abhijnah. Vasudeva. Vasudeva sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah. One who can understand Vasudeva. Sa mahatma sudurlabhah. Such great saintly person is very rare who can understand Krsna.
Now preliminary understanding. Krsna said in the previous verse that, idam sariram kaunteya ksetram ity abhidhiyate [Bg. 13.2]. Idam sariram, this body is called ksetra, field of activities. Idam sariram kaunteya ksetram ity abhidhiyate etad yo vetti: anyone who understands. [Tam] sa prahuh ksetrajnah iti tad-vidah. He is ksetrajnah or the knower of the... Just like we are sitting in this room. It is very easy. Still the rascals, they cannot understand. We are sitting in this room. So the room, the floor is called ksetra, field. It is also field, a small field. And everyone of us, we know that we are sitting on this floor. Nobody will says that "I am the floor." Will any sane man say that "I am the floor"? Nobody will say. It is common sense. So if you try to understand from this simple example, that I am one identity and this field, that is another identity. So I know that I am sitting on this floor.
Similarly this body is one identity and I am another identity. So knowledge means when we can understand that it is "my body," not "I body." Not this nonsense. Nobody says, "I body." Everyone says "my body." This is knowledge. But these rascals, these rascals of modern age, they are saying "I body." "I am this body." What you are? "I am this body." What is your interest? "Now anything which is interested with my body." He's not "I body," still he's interested with everything with this bodily relation. There are thousands of girls, women, but a particular woman with whom I have got my bodily relation, that is my wife. That is mine. And combination, the child comes out, "my child." In this way, "my house," "my property," "my body," "my relative," "my friend," "my brother," "my nation," my, my, my, my. But the rascal does not understand that the beginning of "my" philosophy has begun from this body, which I am not.
This is knowledge. This is called brahma-jnana. If anyone understands the simple thing, that "I am not this body..." But education is given, "No, I am this body." This nationalism, this nationalism also the same mistake, but they are fighting so much. Great, great, big, big men. In this country, Napoleon fought. In Germany, Hitler fought. And so many others, in our country Gandhi fought. But he is in ignorance. All these big big leaders, they are ignorance, andha, blind. Blind. They do not know that he is not this body and neither this land belongs to him. But they fight. The whole history of the world means this mistaken idea. "I" and "mine."
Therefore Krsna says, yat taj jnanam. Ksetra-ksetrajnayor yat taj-jnanam matam mama. Krsna is giving, that one should know what he is and one should know what is his body, then he is in knowledge. The matter cannot understand this. The dogs, cats, cannot understand this. But a human being can understand this. Bhagavad-gita is meant for the human being, not for the cats and dogs. Therefore, the human society should take care of this knowledge. Then his life will be successful.
So it is very simple thing, that ksetra... As I have given the example, that I am sitting on this floor. The floor is different identity from me. No sane man will say that "I am this floor." Or "I am this room." Nobody will say. It is my room, my floor. Similarly this body, we say "my." My finger, my head, my leg. Nobody says that "I leg, I finger, I head." No. This is knowledge. Don't identify yourself with this body. This is knowledge.
This is beginning of spiritual life. The cats and dogs, they cannot understand. The cat cannot understand that he's not body. The dog cannot understand that he is not body. It is the human being who can understand. So if in the human life one does not try to understand this simple knowledge, then he remains like cats or dogs. He's no better than cats and dogs.
This is one point: that I am not this body, I am not this material world. I am a spiritual identity, part and parcel of God. Qualitatively we are one. As God is spirit, so I am also spirit. But His body is very big, gigantic, the universal body, which Krsna showed to Arjuna, the virata-rupa. But my body is not gigantic. It is small. Maybe we call the elephant's body gigantic or similar other animal's body, but still God's body is still more gigantic. You cannot compare. Eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad-gita you'll know how gigantic body has Krsna. So as I have got this body but my spiritual identity is very small, if we study in this way, it is very easy to understand what is God, what I am, what is this world. Just like I am not this body, I am within the body. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]. I am the proprietor of the body.
But what is my magnitude? Kesagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca [Cc. Madya 19.140]. You just take the top of the hair and divide it into ten thousand parts. That one part is your identity. So in these material ideas, we cannot understand that such a small particle, smaller than the atom, has got so power. Therefore, because it is so small, these so-called rascal scientists, they cannot find it, where it is; therefore say, "There is no soul." The rascals will not admit their inefficiency to know and still they will say, "no soul." And if there is no soul, then how it is working? They have no even common sense.
Similarly, as I am very small, smaller than the atom, and I am living within this body and my body is working so nicely. My brain is working so nicely. Similarly, Krsna is also, according to our conception, Krsna is person, individual, but He has got a very gigantic body. This is the material world, material expression. That is expressed in the next verse: ksetrajnam capi mam viddhi. I am also ksetrajnam. As you are knower of your body, the bodily pains and pleasure you know, I know. I do not know your bodily pains and pleasures. Neither you know my bodily pains and pleasure. But Krsna says that ksetrajna, ksetrajnam capi mam viddhi: "I am also ksetrajnam," means "I also know the field."
So how He knows? Sarva-ksetresu bharata. Sarva-ksetresu. He is within every body. He knows what is the ant is doing. He knows what Brahma is doing. He knows what you are doing. He knows what I am doing. Vedaham samatitani. Krsna says in another place, "I know everything." Just like, it is very easy to understand. Just like, you know everything -- not everything -- at least eighty percent you know what is going on in your body. You do not know everything.
If I know everything then why should I go to a physician when there is something wrong in my body. I do not know. I am eating, but I do not know how the eatables are being digested within the stomach, and they are being divided into different secretion. The rejected part is becoming stool and urine, and the other parts, they're becoming blood, and the blood is distributed all over the body, through the veins. How the veins are, what do we know? Although I am claiming my body. But I do not know everything, what is going on in my body, in my brain. The brains are made of so fine tissues. What do you know?
But Krsna is not like that. Krsna knows everything in detail. Anvayad itaratas ca arthesv abhijnah. Throughout the whole universe, throughout the whole creation, in any corner, in any place, whatever is going on, Krsna knows. That is the difference between Krsna and myself. I do not know even what is going on within my body. And still I am claiming I am God. How rascal. Just see, imagine. God's one opulence is that is full knowledge. Aisvaryasya samagrasya viryasya yasasah sriyah jnanam. This rascal god, so-called god, you ask him, "Can you say what I am feeling now or what are my pains and pleasures?" Can he say? And still he's claiming God. But Krsna says, ksetrajnam capi mam viddhi sarva-ksetresu bharata. "I am in every, every body." I am also within this body and Krsna is also within this body. Krsna... As you are within your body, similarly Krsna is also within your body.
So myself, I am called atma. And Krsna is called Paramatma. Therefore there are two words: Paramatma and atma. Atma is also individual. Paramatma is also individual. But because both of us, we are knower, ksetrajnam [vibha(?)], the living entity is ksetrajnam, he has got knowledge. And Krsna says ksetrajnam capi mam viddhi. "I am also knower." Both of them, we are knower. We have got knowledge. My knowledge may be limited. Krsna's knowledge unlimited, complete. But both of us, we are knower. We can understand. We can know. Therefore, we are called ksetrajna. But the difference is Krsna knows everything all over the creation, I even do not know what is going on in my body. That is the difference.
So how one can become God? Rascal. How one can become God. That is not possible. God knows everything. If one knows everything, then you can accept him as God. Otherwise, don't accept. As soon as somebody says, "I am God," kick him on his face. "Yes, you are God, I am God. I am the kicking God." (laughter) That should be the answer. "I am the shoe-beater God. Now you protect yourself if you are God." Don't accept this false God.
Krsna, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. That is the verdict all... Just like Vyasadeva, the giver of the Vedic knowledge, he says, bhagavan uvaca: God says. So we have to follow that. So ksetrajnam capi mam viddhi sarva-ksetresu bharata. (aside:) Don't do that.
And this perception, ksetra-ksetrajnayor jnanam. If we can understand what is ksetra and what is ksetrajnam. Ksetra means field of activities. There are field of activities in so many ways. Not only of this body; body, mind, intelligence. They are all ksetra. I am living entity, I am working with them. Similarly, I am working outside also. Not within, not outside.
I am running my ca... That is also ksetra. The world is ksetra. The car is ksetra. But the doer, the driver, is ksetrajnam. That knowledge is lacking. A child may think that the airplane, big airplane, 747 is running. No, it is not running automatically. There is a pilot -- ksetrajnam. He knows the machine, how to work on it. Everywhere. You study. There is ksetra and ksetrajnam. So Krsna says ksetra-ksetrajnayor jnanam. One who knows how this ksetra and ksetrajnam is working... Not only in individual body, in gigantic body, in everything.
There are two things: ksetra and ksetrajnam. If one knows this secret of knowledge, that means he is in perfect knowledge. Taj-jnanam. That is jnanam. Not that a big professor says that after the finishing of this body, everything is finished. He's a rascal. He's identifying... Everyone is identifying, just like cats and dogs, with this body. The body is ksetra. Body is not the person. A child in ignorance may say that this fine, nice motor car is running automatically. But it is not running automatically. There is a driver. He does not know it. Similarly, the whole universal activities is going on. Don't think it is going on automatically. No, that is foolish knowledge, that nature is working automatically. No. There is ksetrajnam, Krsna. Sarva-ksetresu bharata. Everywhere Krsna is working.
In another place it is said: mayadhyaksena [Bg. 9.10]. He is not working like foolish man. He is working as the superintendent. Every detail he's taking account, how you are doing. That is said in the Bhagavad-gita: maya-adhyaksena. Krsna says "You do this." Immediately, nature will do that. Krsna says, "You do this." Immediately... Not only nature, we are also doing under Krsna's direction. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, fifteenth chapter: sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto [Bg. 15.15]. "I am sitting in everyone's heart." Here also, the same thing. Sarva ksetresu. Not only I am sitting, but Krsna is also sitting. So Krsna is sanctioning. Krsna is giving permission. Then I am doing. I cannot alone do it.
So Krsna is always ready to give you direction. He's there for direction. But unfortunately we do not obey Him. That is our material disease. If we obey Krsna, if we act according to Krsna, then there is no problem. Because Krsna cannot be mistaken. I am imperfect, I can be mistaken. But Krsna cannot be mistaken. Therefore, if we act according to the direction of Krsna, then our life is successful. And to give you direction, Krsna is sitting within your heart, side by side. As I am sitting, you are sitting within this heart, the soul is within the heart.
Therefore when the soul goes away, these rascals says, "heart failure." Not heart failure, the soul has gone from the heart. Heart is also mechanical thing, but the sitting place of the soul is there. So heart failure means the soul has gone from the heart. Sarvasya caham hrdi -- hrdi means heart. The location also being specified -- here is soul and Supersoul. Find out, if you have got such scientific method. But they cannot find it out. Therefore, the rascals say there is no God, there is no soul, simply this lump of matter, that's all.
So anyone who thinks like that, he's described as go-khara. Go-khara means, go means cows and khara means asses. Those who are identifying with this body as the self... Yasyatma buddhi-kunape tri-dhatuke. Kunape. This body is a bag of bones and flesh with urine and stool and blood and so many other things. But if you are scientist, advanced, then I can supply you immense bones, immense blood, immense urine, immense stool, manufacture one body if you are scientist. I give you ingredients. Immense, any quantity. But you just manufacture one ant. And still you are thinking that "science, science." You cannot do anything.
Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Everything is done by prakrti under the direction of Krsna. This is the position. So there are so many thing. If you have got little brain, try to understand. Then knowledge is perfect. Even by studying, simply by studying these two or three lines in this thirteenth chapter, you can become a perfect knower. And if you follow Krsna's instruction... He is giving you instruction. He's ready to give you instruction. From inside and outside also. Inside He's sitting. He's ready to give you instructions. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto [Bg. 15.15]. "I am sitting in everyone's heart."
Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca: "From Me, one remembers, one forgets." When you forget something, that is also Krsna's trick. Because... Just like there are some persons who are devotees and some persons who are demons. So if anyone wants to become a demons, Krsna is within. He'll give him intelligence in such a way that he becomes a first-class demon. What is the duty of the first-class demon? That he'll never understand Krsna. (laughter) That is first-class demon. And if you want to hear Krsna, then he will give you such instruction as you will be relieved from this miserable condition of material life and go back to home, back to Godhead. He's ready. But He does not speak generally, to the nondevotee. If you become a devotee, pure devotee, without any motive, then Krsna is sitting within your heart. He says: tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10]. "Persons who are twenty-four hours engaged in My service with love and faith," buddhi-yogam dadami tam: "I give him such intelligence by which he can come back to home, back to Godhead." He'll give you. Because He knows. But if you don't like to take His instruction, then He gives instruction to the material nature to get you all right.
And what is the main business of material nature? Just to beat you with shoes. That is nature. Therefore we are suffering in this material world. Because we have taken shelter of the material nature. Sada samudvigna-dhiyam asad-grahat. We have taken shelter of this material nature; therefore, we are full of anxieties and full of miserable condition of life. This is the position. So long you'll be under the control of the -- you are under the control. You cannot be independent. You rascal, don't think that ever you shall be independent. Your position is to remain dependent. If you don't depend on Krsna, then you have to depend on the material nature, that's all. You cannot become independent. That is not possible.
So these people, these rascals, they are trying to become independent. They are therefore thinking... One of our student has written, "theomania", "theomania." Therefore, one... Because he cannot become independent artificially he thinks, "Now let me become God, then I'll become..." But artificial thinking God will help you -- no. If you artificially think that, "This bank, this big bank belongs to me." So you can think like that, but does the bank belong to you? So these Mayavadi philosophers are like, They meditate, "I am God, I am God, I am moving the world, I am moving the universe." They say like that. But actually does he do so? No. This is false thinking.
Real thinking is that I am also individual soul. Krsna is also individual, but He is Supersoul, Supreme. I am also person, He is also person, but the Supreme Person. What is the difference between me and Him? I am also person, that's all right, but He is Supreme Person. That is explained in the Vedas, that eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. For providing myself, my body and soul together, I have to, work so much. But Krsna, He is providing millions and trillions of living entities without any endeavor. He is...
In Africa, there are millions of elephants. Krsna is supplying food, yes. There are gorillas, Krsna is supplying food. Why you are anxious for a morsel of bread? Will not supply Krsna? He's perfect, He can supply huge quantity of food to the elephant and a particular type of food to the gorillas. You know? We have read in a book that in Africa where the gorillas live, there are trees. The fruits of that tree, harder than the bullet, It is so hard. And the gorillas take those fruits and chews like peanuts. (laughter) Yes, Krsna has given them. Krsna's living entity. He's also living entity. He has got this body like a gorilla. So Krsna: Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. He supplies food for everyone. All the, not only food, all the necessities. Every life, the necessity.
What is that necessities? We require food, we require shelter, we require sex, we require defense. Krsna provides. Krsna provides. Even birds and beasts life. In every birds and beast there are so many children, both male and female. With the birth, they are supplied. Because there is no marriage, there is no seeking out but with the birth of a bird and beast there is another male and female. And so far food is concerned, everyone is getting. Shelter is concerned, everyone is getting. So food, shelter, sex, and defense. The defense. The birds and beasts they have got their defensing means. Even a small bird, even a small ant, he has got his defensing measures, six legs. And the birds, they have got their nails. And the tiger has got jaws, or the cats and -- everyone has got defensive. You may have atom bomb, but it is defense. It is not intelligence.
Four things are already supplied you require to keep your body fit. That is supplied by God, by Krsna. He has given everyone. So why you are bothering? You are human being, you have got so much nice brain, civilized. Why you are so much busy for these four things? If God has supplied these four things to the animals, beasts, birds, is He very miserly that He'll not supply to the human being? No. There is food, You have got your particular type of teeth for eating fruits, flowers, grains. You haven't got canine teeth. Why you should eat meat? This is not your food.
So in this way we have to acquire knowledge. Not like blind men. But unfortunately we prefer to become a servant of a blind leader instead of Krsna. This is our disease. We shall serve. I asked this question to Professor Kotovsky, that "Your communist philosophy and our Krsna consciousness, where is the difference? You have selected your leader and you have sold yourself to the orders of Lenin. And we have also bowed down to Krsna and we have sold ourselves to Krsna. So on principle, where is the difference?" There is no difference. You have to select one leader. We have also selected one. Now if the leader is perfect, then my life is perfect. If the leader is wrong, then your life is wrong. So he could not answer this.
The principle is there. You have to select one leader and you have to act by his order. That is, that is our nature. Because Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: jivera svarupa haya nitya-krsna-dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. Every living entity is eternal servant of Krsna. When he forgets Krsna he becomes servant of maya. That is our position. We have to serve. Therefore self-realization means to understand oneself that "I am dependent on Krsna. I am eternal servant of Krsna, let me engage myself to the service of the Lord." That is perfection of knowledge. Thank you very much. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 13.3 -- Paris, August 11, 1973
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