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Bhagavad Gita · 13.23 · Yoga through Distinguishing the Field and the Knower of the Field·23 of 35

उपद्रष्टाऽनुमन्ता च भर्ता भोक्ता महेश्वरःपरमात्मेति चाप्युक्तो देहेऽस्मिन्पुरुषः परः

upadraṣhṭānumantā cha bhartā bhoktā maheśhvaraḥ

paramātmeti chāpy ukto dehe ’smin puruṣhaḥ paraḥ

Sanskrit recitation

Matter, spirit, and freedom · 13.19–13.35 · Teaching

Translation

The Supreme Soul in this body is also called the observer, the permitter, the sustainer, the enjoyer, the great Lord, and the Supreme Self.

Meaning

Upadrashta A spectator, a witness, a lookeron, a bystander, one who sits near. When the priests and the sacrificer perform the sacrificial rites, an expert who has good experience in sacrifical matters sits by their side. He does not take any part at all in the sacrifice. He sits as a silent witness. He guides them. He points out their defects and corrects them. Even so the Supreme Self does not act. It does not take any part in the activities of the body, the mind and the senses. It is entirely distinct from them. It is a silent witness of their activities. It sits near Nature and silently watches Her actions.It may be explained in another way. The body, the eyes, the mind, the intellect and the Self are the,seers. Of these the body is the most external seer the Self is the most internal and nearest seer. Beyond the Self there is no other internal seer.Anumanta Permitter. The Supreme Self gives consent. It expresses Its approval or satisfaction regarding the actions done by the senses, the mind and the intellect. The King consents and says Yes. The Prime Minister and the other officers carry out his orders. Even so the Supreme Self consents or gives permission the body, the mind, the intellect, and the senses perform their respective functions

After Swami Sivananda

Matter, spirit, and freedom· 13.19–13.35

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

Word-by-word
cha
and
iti
that
dehe
within the body
asmin
this
bhartā
the supporter
bhoktā
the transcendental enjoyer
cha api
and also
uktaḥ
is said
anumantā
the permitter
parama-ātmā
Superme Soul
upadraṣhṭā
the witness
mahā-īśhvaraḥ
the ultimate controller
puruṣhaḥ paraḥ
the Supreme Lord

Related verses

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