Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 13.2

“The Blessed Lord said: This body, O Kaunteya, is called the field; he who knows it is called the knower of the field.”
Key Teaching: The body is the field; the soul is its knower.
Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga.
Description:
Krishna defines the body as the field (kshetra) and the soul as the knower of the field (kshetrajna). This verse, responding to 13.1, addresses Arjuna’s quest (2.9). The themes of guidance, as Krishna clarifies metaphysical terms, Jnana Yoga, as he emphasizes discernment, and Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, as he points to liberation, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s selfawareness (1.28–46) aligns with the knower, contrasting Duryodhana’s material focus (1.3–11). The teaching aligns with Jnana Yoga (2.20), distinguishing body and soul, and builds on Arjuna’s question (13.1). Krishna introduces the fieldknower duality.

Philosophically, the verse establishes the bodysoul distinction, a theme refined with teachings on the eternal self (2.20). Arjuna’s path is clarified by recognizing the soul’s transcendence. The Gita’s focus on Moksha Sannyasa Yoga underscores liberation through knowledge. The verse connects to teachings on the self’s immortality (2.20).

Sanjaya’s narration ensures objective clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s duality, where the soul transcends the body. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers to discern the knower, aligning with moksha. The definition resonates with Arjuna’s need for spiritual clarity.