Chapter 13: Ksetra Ksetrajna Vibhaaga Yoga, verse 17
अविभक्तं च भूतेषु विभक्तमिव च स्थितम्।
भूतभर्तृ च तज्ज्ञेयं ग्रसिष्णु प्रभविष्णु च ॥
Say itavibhaktaṁ cha bhūteṣhu vibhaktam iva cha sthitam
bhūta-bhartṛi cha taj jñeyaṁ grasiṣhṇu prabhaviṣhṇu cha
Translation
Undivided yet, It exists as if divided in beings; It is to be known as the supporter of beings; It devours and It generates.
Swami Sivananda
The Knowable, though undivided, appears to exist as divided in all beings, and It is the sustainer, devourer, and originator of all beings.
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
Undivided yet appearing as if divided among beings, this Self is to be known as the supporter of the elements. It devours them and causes their generation.
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
It remains undistinguished among the distinguished beings, and appears as if distinguished. It is to be known as the supporter of beings, and also as their swallower and originator.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
In all beings, undivided yet living in division, it is the upholder of all, both creator and destroyer alike.
Shri Purohit Swami
वे परमात्मा स्वयं विभागरहित होते हुए भी सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंमें विभक्तकी तरह स्थित हैं। वे जाननेयोग्य परमात्मा ही सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंको उत्पन्न करनेवाले, उनका भरण-पोषण करनेवाले और संहार करनेवाले हैं।
Swami Ramsukhdas
और वह अविभक्त है, तथापि वह भूतों में विभक्त के समान स्थित है। वह ज्ञेय ब्रह्म भूतमात्र का भर्ता, संहारकर्ता और उत्पत्ति कर्ता है।
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.
Verse map
How this verse connects to feelings, situations, ideas and other verses. Hover or tap to see why; these links are drafts awaiting review.