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Chapter 13 · Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness · 35 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Soul & knowledgeChapter 13 · Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness

13.31 13.33

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 13.32

Seeing rightly the body, soul and the Supreme

Jīva · The soul

अनादित्वान्निर्गुणत्वात्परमात्मायमव्यय: ।

शरीरस्थोऽपि कौन्तेय न करोति न लिप्यते ॥ ३२ ॥

anāditvān nirguṇatvāt

paramātmāyam avyayaḥ

śarīra-stho ’pi kaunteya

na karoti na lipyate

Translation

Those with the vision of eternity can see that the imperishable soul is transcendental, eternal, and beyond the modes of nature. Despite contact with the material body, O Arjuna, the soul neither does anything nor is entangled.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

The Soul Is Eternal

1
Those with eternal vision see that the soul is beyond nature’s modes and neither acts nor becomes entangled in the body.
2
Prabhupāda explains that only the body is born. The soul is unborn, cannot be destroyed, and is naturally full of bliss.
3
Remember that the soul’s eternal nature does not change through contact with a material body.

Key points from the purport

Vision of eternity is further explained — One can see that the soul never mixes with the body

Imperishable soul is transcendental, eternal and beyond the modes

Despite contact with material body, the soul neither does anything nor is entangled

This fact is explained by two analogies in Texts 13.33 – 13.34

Connected verses · 2

Texts 13.31 & 13.32

What does a person with Brahman vision see?

Texts 13.32 & 13.33

QUESTION — Krishna states clearly in Text 13.32 that only the body changes. The soul is eternal and changeless. As the soul is nevertheless within the body, does he combine with it? ANSWER: Krishna answers in Text 13.33 by saying that matter and spirit do not mix. He explains this with two analogies in Text 13.33 and 13.34 respectively

Jnana-Chakshu: The Vision Of Knowledge

Those who see the distinction between the body, its owner and the Supersoul, and who recognize the process of liberation, can attain the Supreme goal (13.35)

Chapter 13, section V: Jnana-Chakshu: The Vision Of Knowledge