Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 34

English Translation

As the single sun illumines this whole world, similarly, O descendant of the Bharata dynasty, the Knower of the field illumines the whole field.

Detailed Commentary

13.34 Commentary -- Just as a single sun illuminates this entire world, and all activities of the world occur under the light of the sun, yet the sun itself is not the doer (kartā) of these activities. For instance, a Brāhmaṇa recites the Vedas and a hunter hunts in its light, but the sun is not the cause of this. Here, the word 'loka' refers only to this world. Whatever light exists in this world (such as in the moon, stars, fire, gems, herbs, etc.), it is all the light of the sun. The Kṣetrajña (knower of the field) illuminates all fields in the same way the sun does. Activities in all fields occur in the light of the Kṣetrajña, but the Kṣetrajña is not the doer in them. The sun, however, illuminates only the gross world. But the Kṣetrajña illuminates all three fields – the gross, the subtle, and the causal – and in its light, all activities of the three bodies take place. Just as the sun, even after illuminating the world, has no ego (abhimāna) and is not affected by various activities, similarly, the Kṣetrajña, upon illuminating all fields, does not exhibit ego or doership (kartṛtva). It always remains unattached (nirlipta) and unassociated (asaṅga). No action or object exists without a substratum (āśraya), and no knowledge exists without illumination. The Kṣetrajña is the substratum and illuminator of all actions, objects, and knowledge. Connection -- Now, the Lord concludes the discourse by explaining the fruit of knowing the distinction between the Kṣetra and the Kṣetrajña.