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The Bhagavad Gita · 2 of 2 · tr. Kashinath Trimbak Telang

Chapter XIII, Section 1b

The supreme spirit in this body is called supervisor, adviser , supporter, enjoyer, the great lord, and the supreme self also. He who thus knows nature and spirit, together with the qualities, is not born again, however living . Some by concentration see the self in the self by the self; others by the Sâ n kya-yoga; and others still by the Karma-yoga ; others yet, not knowing this, practise concentration, after hearing from others . They, too, being (thus) devoted to hearing (instruction) cross beyond death. Whatever thing movable or immovable comes into existence, know that to be from the connexion of Kshetra and Kshetra g ña, O chief of the descendants of Bharata! He sees (truly) who sees the supreme lord abiding alike in all entities, and not destroyed though they are destroyed. For he who sees the lord abiding everywhere alike, does not destroy himself by himself, and then reaches the highest goal. He sees (truly), who sees (all) actions (to be) in every way done by nature alone, and likewise the self (to be) not the doer. When a man sees all the variety of entities as existing in one , and (all as) emanating from that, then he becomes (one with) the Brahman. This inexhaustible supreme self, being without beginning and without qualities, does not act, and is not tainted, O son of Kuntî! though stationed in the body. As by (reason of its) subtlety the all-pervading space is not tainted, so the self stationed in every body is not tainted. As the sun singly lights up all this world, so the Kshetra g ña, O descendant of Bharata! lights up the whole Kshetra. Those who, with the eye of knowledge, thus understand the difference between Kshetra and Kshetra g ña, and the destruction of the nature of all entities , go to the supreme.
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Themes
Apophatic Theologytheology

Describing the divine only by negation—God transcends all positive categories and concepts; the via negativa.

The Supreme Self is described via negation as 'without beginning and without qualities' and 'does not act'.

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Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

The passage is structured around the fundamental distinction between Kshetra (nature/matter) and Kshetragña (spirit/knower).

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Divine Lighttheology

The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.

The text uses the metaphor of the sun lighting up the world to explain how the Kshetragña (Supreme Self) illuminates the field of existence.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

The passage repeatedly emphasizes that 'knowing' the distinction between nature and spirit is the sole means to liberation and crossing beyond death.

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Inner Lightanthropology

The divine spark or luminous quality residing within the human person, potentially recognisable through introspection.

By comparing the self to the sun that lights up the whole field (body/cosmos), the passage suggests an inherent luminous quality within the individual.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation.

The passage asserts that the Supreme Lord abides in all entities and that one sees the self within the self, locating the divine realm internally.

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Meditationpraxis

Disciplined inward attention — sitting, focused, or open-awareness practice — as a stand-alone term that umbrellas active_contemplation, inner_silence, and dhyana-style sitting.

The text lists 'concentration' (dhyana) as a specific method used by some to see the self and achieve liberation.

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Microcosm Macrocosmcosmology

The human being as a small-scale image of the entire cosmos; the body, soul, and intellect mirroring the structure of the heavens and the divine — distinct from correspondence in that it makes the human the privileged mirror.

The passage explicitly draws parallels between the individual body (Kshetra) and the entire cosmos, stating that all entities exist within the one Supreme Self just as the sun lights up the whole world.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

The passage describes the state where one sees all variety of entities as existing in one and emanating from that, resulting in becoming 'one with the Brahman'.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

The text states that those who understand the difference between nature and spirit 'go to the supreme', indicating a return to the divine origin.

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Self Knowledgesoteriology

The recognition of one's own true divine nature as the primary path to liberation; 'know thyself' as soteriology.

The text describes seeing 'the self in the self by the self' as a primary path to liberation, centering the recognition of one's true nature.

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Soul Migrationcosmology

The transmigration of the soul across lives.

The text directly addresses the cessation of rebirth ('not born again') for those who possess true knowledge, implying the doctrine of transmigration as the default state.

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Unity Of Beingtheology

The doctrine that all existence is ultimately one substance or one divine reality; non-duality as a theological claim.

The core message is that the Supreme Self abides alike in all entities and that seeing this oneness leads to the highest goal.

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Related passages · 4 parallels
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Both passages discuss the nature of the supreme self or divine intellect and the soul's relationship to it. They emphasize the self-sufficiency and all-pervading nature of the divine, and the soul's potential to attain knowledge or union with it through contemplation or yoga.
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Both passages discuss the nature of the divine spirit or self within all things, emphasizing its role as the ultimate reality and the source of all existence. They also highlight the transformative knowledge of this spirit, which leads to liberation or enlightenment.
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Goodness is sought by all. It is the Prime Cause of causes. Goodness is self-diffused and hence exists in all things, for nothing can produce that which it does not have in itself. The Table demonstrates that all is in God and God is in…”
Both passages discuss the omnipresence and unity of the divine within all things, emphasizing that the supreme spirit or goodness is diffused throughout creation and that understanding this unity leads to spiritual liberation or enlightenment.