Field and Knower of Field – Body Soul and Supreme Soul

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Bhagavad-gītā 13.1–2 — December 29, 1972, Bombay 721229BG-BOMBAY [49:40 Minutes] Bg-13.01–02_721229BG-BOMBAY Pradyumna: Translation: "Arjuna said: O my dear Kṛṣṇa, I wish to know about prakṛti, nature; puruṣa, or the enjoyer; and the field and the knower of the field; and of knowledge and the end of knowledge. The Blessed Lord then said: This body, O son of Kuntī, is called the field, and one who knows this body..., who knows this body is called the knower of the field." [Bg 13.1–2]

Prabhupāda: Hm. Kṣetra-kṣetra-jñam. Just like we are living in this apartment and we know that I am not this apartment, but I am living in this apartment. The people say that because the Supersoul or the soul is living within this body, therefore the body is soul.

This is not very good argument. That is being cleared by Kṛṣṇa Himself. Idaṁ śarīraṁ kaunteya kṣetram ity abhidhīyate [Bg. 13.2]. Kṣetra.

Kṣetra means land or a place. So idaṁ śarīraṁ kaunteya kṣetram ity abhidhīyate. And, the next line? Pradyumna: Etad yo vetti tam...

Prabhupāda: Etad yo vetti, and one who knows it, he's kṣetra-jñaḥ. Jñaḥ means in knowledge. So we should know this, that "I am not this body; it is my body." If we analyze the body, I say, "It is my hand," "It is my leg," "It is my head." Nobody says "I head" or "I hand." "I" is different from this body. I am living in this apartment, but I am not this apartment.

But the modern civilization is going on on the basic idea that "I am this body." "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am brāhmaṇa," "I am kṣatriya," "I am man," "I am woman." This is condemned. This is condemned. This is... This is the concession of the animals.

The animals, they do not know that the dog, the body-dog and the soul who has obtained the body of a dog... The soul is different from the body. This is the Vedic information: asaṅgo 'yaṁ puruṣaḥ. [break] The living entity, soul, is not this material body.

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