13.35 - Bhagavad Gita - Chapter 13, Verse 35

Verse 13.35 of the Bhagavad Gita serves as the culminating wisdom of the entire thirteenth chapter, where Lord Krishna reveals the profound knowledge about the distinction between the body (kshetra) and the knower of the body (kshetrajna). In this verse, Krishna states that those who perceive with the eyes of knowledge (jnana-chakshusha) the difference between the body and its knower, and understand the process of liberation from material nature, attain the supreme destination.

The verse addresses one of the fundamental causes of human suffering – the misidentification of the self with the physical body. Most people operate under the delusion "I am the body, I am the mind, I am subject to disease and death, I am suffering, I am now so and so, I belong to this caste, I am wealthy, I am poor". This ignorance (avidya) causes the soul to experience repeated cycles of birth, death, and suffering. Krishna explains that this intermixing of the observer (Drik) and the observed (Drisya) – of the knower of the field and the field itself – is the fundamental cause of bondage.

The "eyes of knowledge" that Krishna refers to represent spiritual discrimination – the ability to discern between what is temporary and what is eternal. This discriminative knowledge helps us understand that the body is composed of twenty-four material elements including mind and senses, while the soul is distinct, eternal, and unchanging. The soul merely resides in the body and imparts consciousness to it, without being affected by the body's transformations. This realization serves as the foundation for spiritual evolution.

In this chapter, Krishna has meticulously explained that both the individual soul (jiva) and the Supreme Soul (Paramatma) reside within the body, but with different functions. The jiva becomes entangled in material nature due to ignorance, experiencing happiness and distress based on karmic reactions. The Paramatma, however, remains as the witness, overseer, and supreme controller. Understanding this distinction is crucial for spiritual advancement, as it allows the seeker to recognize the divine presence within all beings and to align with higher consciousness.

Krishna emphasizes that liberation comes through applying this knowledge practically. Earlier in the chapter (verses 8-12), he outlined the path of spiritual knowledge that leads to liberation, including qualities like humility, detachment, nonviolence, and devotion to the Lord. These qualities help develop detachment from the body and senses, enabling one to break free from material identification. When a person cultivates these qualities while maintaining clear discrimination between the body and soul, they begin the journey toward liberation.

The ultimate message of this verse is that true spiritual vision transforms our entire experience of reality. When we stop identifying with the temporary body and recognize our eternal spiritual nature, we transcend the dualities of material existence such as pleasure-pain, success-failure, and the fear of disease and death. This higher understanding allows us to tap into infinite energy and wisdom that is our birthright as spiritual beings. The result is immunity from the suffering caused by material attachment and the ability to perform our duties with perfection.

This verse serves as both a summary and a promise – those who develop this discerning knowledge will be released from the bondage of material nature and reach the supreme destination. As Sri Ramanuja's commentary affirms, such individuals will be "completely delivered from bondage" and will reach the self "marked by infinite knowledge abiding in Its own form". The liberation Krishna speaks of isn't merely theoretical but represents the practical culmination of spiritual knowledge – the return to our original, blissful spiritual state beyond the limitations of material existence.