Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13, Verse 5

English Translation

It has been sung of in various ways by the Rsis, separately by the different kinds [The different branches of Vedic texts.] of Vedic texts, and also by the rational and convicing sentences themselves which are indicatvie of and lead of Brahman.

Detailed Commentary

The Rishis, as seers of Vedic mantras and authors of Shastras, Smritis, and Puranas, have extensively described *Kshetra* and *Kshetrajna* using terms such as *jada-chetana* (insentient-sentient), *sat-asat* (existent-non-existent), *sharira-shariri* (body-indweller), *deha-dehi* (body-soul), and *nitya-anitya* (eternal-transient). In various ways through metrical hymns (*chandas*) — here, the use of *chandas* with the adjective 'various' refers to the mantras found in the Samhita and Brahmana sections of the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda. Within these (texts), one should also understand all the Upanishads and their various *Shakhas*. In them, *Kshetra* and *Kshetrajna* have been described in diverse forms. Furthermore, the essence of *Kshetra* and *Kshetrajna* has been described by the aphorisms of the Brahmasutras, which are endowed with many logical arguments and are conclusively established. The Lord's intention in this *shloka* is that if anyone wishes to see in detail the brief description of *Kshetra* and *Kshetrajna* that He is providing, they can refer to the aforementioned texts. In the third *shloka*, out of the six points concerning *Kshetra* and *Kshetrajna* that were commanded to be heard briefly, two aspects of *Kshetra* – namely, its inherent nature (*Swarupa*) and its modifications (*vikaras*) – have been described in the subsequent two *shlokas*.