13.15 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 13, Verse 15

Verse 13.15 of the Bhagavad Gita continues the exploration of the Supreme Reality, the Paramatma, and brings out its mysterious, paradoxical, and all-pervasive nature. Sri Krishna describes the Supersoul as the source and illuminator of all sensory functions—He shines through the activities of all senses, and yet He Himself is untouched by them. In other words, while all beings perceive the world through their senses, the Supreme is the very foundation enabling these perceptions, yet remains fully independent of any sensory apparatus.

This verse underscores several apparent contradictions, which are, in the philosophical context of the Gita, not contradictions but revelations of the Supreme's transcendence. The Paramatma is “sarvendriya-guṇābhāsaṁ”—manifesting as the power behind all senses and their experiences—while remaining “sarvendriya-vivarjitam,” meaning He does not possess material senses Himself. Though sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell are possible only through His presence, He is untouched by the limitations these senses imply. He is both the witness of the senses and beyond the need for them.

Moreover, the verse states that the Supreme is “asaktam,” unattached or without any binding involvement with the material world, but, paradoxically, He is also “sarva-bhṛc,” the maintainer and sustainer of all. He nourishes, upholds, and keeps the universe running, yet He is not entangled in its affairs. The ancient analogy used to describe this is often that of the sun: the sun gives energy and light to all, facilitating every action on Earth, but remains separate from the activities it enables.

Further deepening the mystery, Krishna calls the Supersoul “nirguṇam”—beyond the three modes of material nature (sattva, rajas, tamas)—yet “guṇa-bhoktṛ ca”—the master and enjoyer of all these modes. While He orchestrates the workings of nature, He is not limited, defined, or confounded by them. The modes are like the threads of a tapestry, and the Supreme is the weaver, remaining distinct from the fabric He creates.

The Upanishadic style is evident here, where the Absolute is described through paradox and negation to help seekers grasp its transcendence. The mind, accustomed to tangible objects and concrete descriptors, struggles to conceive of such a reality: the source of all senses, yet without senses; the supporter of all, yet unattached; the experiencer of qualities, yet, in essence, quality-less. These seeming contradictions urge the reader to look beyond material logic and sense-bound perception.

In narrative terms, imagine electricity running through every device in a home. It powers a refrigerator to cool, a lamp to shine, and a speaker to sound, yet electricity itself is none of those things. It is not cold, bright, or loud—it simply enables all these functions while remaining unchanged and unaffected by them. Similarly, the Supreme enables all actions, perceptions, and experiences, yet remains perfectly transcendental and detached.

Thus, this verse leads the seeker toward a more subtle and profound understanding of the divine. The Paramatma is at once immanent—present in all forms, behind all functions—and utterly transcendent, unbound by any form or attribute. To meditate on this truth is to move beyond superficial comprehension and toward a realization of the Supreme’s ever-present witness, support, and transcendence in all aspects of life and the universe.

In conclusion, Krishna’s revelations in verse 13.15 challenge the reader to hold the paradox of the divine in their mind with humility. The Supreme is everywhere, in everything, yet untouched and uninvolved. He is the source and mover of the universe, yet beyond its limitations. Such knowledge sets the foundation for real appreciation, reverence, and a deeper spiritual insight into the nature of the ultimate reality.