Arjuna said: Prakṛti (Nature) and Purusha (the Lord of Nature), kshetra (the Field) and Kshetrajña (the knower of the Field) – these I desire to know; and also knowledge and the knowable, O Keshava.
The dialogue is entering a new phase of enumerations, making the subject of spiritual knowledge lucid and more sādhanā-oriented.
Of the three broad sections of the Text, thirteenth chapter marks the beginning of the third dealing with the subject of spirituality in greater depth and detail. Arjuna’s enquiry provides a new focus for Krishna to speak on. Prakṛti is the changeful material part of Creation, and Purusha, the non-changing conscious substratum. Arjuna also wants to know the Knower (Kshetrajña) as distinct from the Field of activity (kshetra), and also the knowable (jñeyam) as distinct from knowledge (jñānam).
