Shloka 19

Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga

Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञतत्त्वज्ञा: स्वयज्ञपरिनिछिता:

Transliteration

kṣetrakṣetrajñatattvajñāḥ svayajñapariniścitāḥ

Translation

Chūlādhāra said: “Those who truly know the reality of the ‘field’ and the ‘knower of the field’—and who are firmly established in the discipline of their own inner sacrifice—stand settled in right understanding.”

Word by Word

• क्षेत्र: the field (body/matter)
• क्षेत्र: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• क्षेत्रज्ञ: the knower of the field (self)
• क्षेत्रज्ञ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तत्त्वज्ञाः: knowers of reality/truth
• तत्त्वज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्वज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्वयज्ञपरिनिष्ठिताः: steadfast/established in the self-sacrifice (inner worship)
• स्वयज्ञपरिनिष्ठिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वयज्ञपरिनिष्ठित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

चुलाधार उवाच

Characters & Entities

• चुलाधार (Chūlādhāra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True spiritual maturity is marked by clear discernment between the ‘field’ (body–mind and changing nature) and the ‘knower’ (the witnessing consciousness), together with steadiness in inner sacrifice—self-discipline and inward offering—rather than mere reliance on outward ritual.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instructional dialogue, Chūlādhāra continues to teach by defining the qualities of genuine knowers: they possess metaphysical clarity (kṣetra/kṣetrajña) and are firmly established in an inwardly oriented yajña, presenting an ethical-spiritual standard for right living.