Shloka 16
Kṣetra–Kṣetrajña-Jñāna–Jñeya-Viveka
Field, Knower, Knowledge, and the Knowable
वक्तुमर्हस्यशेषेण दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतय: । याभिविंभूतिभिलोंकानिमांस्त्वं व्याप्प तिष्ठसि
arjuna uvāca | vaktum arhasy aśeṣeṇa divyā hy ātma-vibhūtayaḥ | yābhir vibhūtibhir lokān imāṁs tvaṁ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi ||
Arjuna sprach: „Darum bist nur Du imstande, ohne Auslassung, Deine göttlichen Manifestationen vollständig zu schildern — jene Kräfte, durch die Du alle diese Welten durchdringst und erhältst.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the doctrine of divine immanence: the Supreme is not distant but pervades and sustains all worlds through identifiable ‘vibhūtis’ (manifest glories). Knowing these manifestations supports steady devotion and right understanding (dharma-oriented discernment) in a conflicted life-situation.
On the battlefield, Arjuna turns from confusion toward inquiry. He requests Krishna to explain, in full, the divine manifestations by which Krishna pervades all realms—preparing the ground for Krishna’s ensuing enumeration of vibhūtis in the Vibhūti-yoga section.