Chapter 13Verse 16 of 34

Bhagavad Gita 13.16

अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम्। भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च॥

avibhaktaṁ ca bhūteṣu vibhaktam iva ca sthitam bhūta-bhartṛ ca taj jñeyaṁ grasiṣṇu prabhaviṣṇu ca

Translation

Undivided in beings, yet abiding as if divided. To be known as the supporter of beings, as devourer and producer.

Avibhaktam vibhaktam iva. Undivided, yet appearing as if divided in different beings. The translation must keep both halves visible. One brahman, many apparent locations. Then three functions in series. Bhuta-bhartri, supporter of beings; the substrate that holds them in being. Grasishnu, devourer; what each being eventually returns into. Prabhavishnu, producer; what each being came out of. Source, support, dissolution, all in one. Western theology splits these across three persons or three moments. The Gita compresses them into one identity. To be known here is not informational. The whole portrait of jnana from the previous list is the kind of knowing being asked for. Information without the dispositions is ignorance.

Reflection

Glance once at a stranger today and try the suggestion of undivided behind divided.

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Thirteen

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