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← Chapter 13: The Yoga of the Field and the Knower of the Field

Verse 13.31

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

यदा भूतपृथग्भावमेकस्थमनुपश्यति | तत एव च विस्तारं ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा ||३१||

Transliteration (IAST)

yadā bhūta-pṛthag-bhāvam eka-stham anupaśyati | tata eva ca vistāraṁ brahma sampadyate tadā ||31||

Word-by-Word Meanings

yadā-when
bhūta-pṛthak-bhāvam-the separate existence of beings
eka-stham-situated in one (source)
anupaśyati-perceives
tataḥ eva-from that alone
vistāram-expansion/manifestation
brahma-Brahman
sampadyate-attains/becomes

Translation

When one perceives the diverse existence of beings as rooted in One, and their expansion as proceeding from that One alone - then one attains Brahman.

Commentary

The vision of unity in diversity is the hallmark of Brahman-realization. When the multiplicity of beings is seen as having a single source and being the manifestation of that one reality, the seer attains identity with Brahman. Shankaracharya explains this as the direct realization of non-duality - seeing that all differences are apparent, not real. This echoes the Chandogya Upanishad's teaching 'ekam evādvitīyam.'

Themes

jnanamokshaatman