Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 13
Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa: The Mind as Bondage and the Two Kṣetrajñas
क्षेत्रज्ञ आत्मा पुरुष: पुराण: साक्षात्स्वयंज्योतिरज: परेश: । नारायणो भगवान् वासुदेव: स्वमाययाऽऽत्मन्यवधीयमान: ॥ १३ ॥ यथानिल: स्थावरजङ्गमाना- मात्मस्वरूपेण निविष्ट ईशेत् । एवं परो भगवान् वासुदेव: क्षेत्रज्ञ आत्मेदमनुप्रविष्ट: ॥ १४ ॥
kṣetrajña ātmā puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ sākṣāt svayaṁ jyotir ajaḥ pareśaḥ nārāyaṇo bhagavān vāsudevaḥ sva-māyayātmany avadhīyamānaḥ
କ୍ଷେତ୍ରଜ୍ଞ ଆତ୍ମା ଆଦିପୁରୁଷ, ସ୍ୱୟଂଜ୍ୟୋତି, ଅଜ ଓ ପରେଶ୍ୱର। ସେଇ ଭଗବାନ୍ ନାରାୟଣ, ବାସୁଦେବ; ସ୍ୱମାୟାଶକ୍ତିରେ ସମସ୍ତ ଜୀବଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟରେ ଅଧିଷ୍ଠିତ।
This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) . Sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca. Every living being is controlled by the supreme living being, Paramātmā, who resides within everyone’s heart. He is the puruṣa, the puruṣa-avatāra, who creates this material world. The first puruṣa-avatāra is Mahā-Viṣṇu, and that Mahā-Viṣṇu is the plenary portion of the plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa’s first expansion is Baladeva, and His next expansions are Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Aniruddha and Pradyumna. Vāsudeva is the original cause of the brahmajyoti, and the brahmajyoti is the expansion of the rays of the body of Vāsudeva.
FAQs
In this verse, Jada Bharata identifies the true kṣetrajña as Bhagavān Vāsudeva—self-effulgent, unborn, and supreme—who knows and pervades the field (the body).
Rahūgaṇa was proud and bodily identified; Jada Bharata corrected him by revealing that the Supreme Lord, though transcendental, appears bound only by His own māyā, while the soul must awaken to this truth.
Reduce ego and anxiety by remembering: you are not the body, and the Lord is present as the inner witness; live with humility, devotion, and detachment from temporary designations.