O Keshava, I wish to understand what are Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (the enjoyer), and what is the field (body), and what are the knower of the field (the individual soul) and the knowledge and the object of knowledge.

This body, O son of Kunti, is called the field; those who know this call him who is conscious of it the knower of the field.

O Arjuna, understand Me to be the knower of the field in all fields. The understanding of both the field and its knower is considered by Me to be true knowledge.

Listen, and I will explain to you briefly what that field is, what its nature is, what the changes it undergoes are, and from where it originates, and also who he is and what his powers are.

The sages have sung about it in various Vedic hymns and in different ways, all of which are definitely aimed at understanding the Absolute Truth.

The great elements, ego, intellect, unmanifested nature, ten senses, mind, and the five sense objects, desire, hatred, pleasure, pain, the physical body, consciousness, and resolve—thus are the 24 components enumerated.

Desire and aversion, pleasure and pain, the body, consciousness, and determination – these make up the field with its modifications.

Humility, pridelessness, non-violence, tolerance, simplicity, approaching a bona fide spiritual master, cleanliness, steadiness, and self-control.

Detachment from sense objects, absence of ego, perceiving the evils of birth, death, old age, and disease.

Absence of attachment to son, wife, home, etc., and constant even-mindedness on the occurrence of the desirable and the undesirable events.

Devotion to Me with an undistracted mind, residing in a solitary place, not delighting in the company of men, always engaged in the practice of yoga.

Constant contemplation on spiritual knowledge, perception of the purpose of knowledge about the Truth, this is declared as knowledge, and all else is ignorance.

I shall now explain to you what is to be known, knowing which, you will taste the eternal. Brahman, the Spirit, beginningless and subordinate to Me, lies beyond the cause and effect of this material world.

Everywhere are His hands and feet, eyes, heads, and faces; He exists enveloping everything in the world, hearing through all ears.

The field of activities (body), its knowable (the five sense objects), and the knower of the field of activities (the individual soul) are the three subjects of knowledge. That which through proper understanding one should know, is the soul also, the fourth dimension - transcendental to these.

Both within and without all beings, the unmoving and also the moving, because of Its subtlety, inconceivable; far away and yet near, is That.

Although the Supersoul appears to be divided among all beings, He is actually undivided. He exists as if situated within divided things, and He is the one who maintains all beings. He is known as the overseer of all sacrifices and the Supreme Lord who is the controller of all, and who is celebrated in the scriptures as the Lord of the universe.

That which is the light even among lights, which is said to be beyond darkness, and is knowledge, the knowable, and the goal of knowledge, is seated in the hearts of all.

Thus, the field, knowledge, and the object of knowledge have been summarily described by Me. Only My devotee can understand this truth and attain to My nature.

Know that both matter and spirit are without beginning; and know that the transformations and the modes of nature are products of material energy.

Nature is said to be the cause of all material activities and effects, whereas the soul is the cause of experiencing happiness and distress.

The individual soul situated within the material nature experiences the modes of material nature, which cause its birth in higher and lower forms of life.

The Supersoul is the overseer, permitter, and enjoyer, and He is also the supreme Lord who exists as the overseer and permitter of the individual soul within the body.

One who understands thus the Purusha and Prakriti with the Gunas, in whatever condition he may be, he is not born again.

Some perceive the Self within themselves by the practice of meditation, others by the path of knowledge, and still others by the path of work.

Others, again, not understanding in this manner, but hearing from others, worship what they hear; they also transcend death, being devoted to the rituals described in the Vedas.

O Arjuna, know that whatever beings are born, animate or inanimate, are due to the union of the field and the knower of the field.

One who sees the Supersoul accompanying the individual soul in all beings, and who understands that the individual souls are perishable while the Supersoul is imperishable—he actually sees.

One who sees the Supersoul equally present everywhere, in every living being, does not degrade himself by his mind. Thus, he approaches the transcendental destination.

One who perceives that all activities are performed by nature alone and that the self is not the doer, sees things as they are.

When one sees the diversity of beings as being grounded in the unity of the One and comprehends that all diversity is a manifestation of the Supreme, then one reaches the highest state of spiritual realization.

Being unbeginning, without qualities, and imperishable, the supreme self, even though residing in the body, neither acts nor is tainted.

Just as the all-pervading space is not tainted by the objects that exist within it, similarly, the soul situated within the body is not tainted by the body itself.

As the sun illuminates all this universe alone, so does the knower of the field illuminate the entire field, O Arjuna!