यथा प्रकाशयत्येकः कृत्स्नं लोकमिमं रविः । क्षेत्रं क्षेत्री तथा कृत्स्नं प्रकाशयति भारत ॥
yathā prakāśayatyekaḥ kṛtsnaṃ lokamimāṃ raviḥ | kṣetraṃ kṣetrī tathā kṛtsnaṃ prakāśayati bhārata ||
Translation
As the single sun illumines the entire world — so the owner of the field (the Knower) illumines the entire field, O Bharata.
Interpretation
The sun simile: one sun (ekah — single, alone) illumines the entire world (krishtsnam lokam imam). Without the sun, nothing would be visible — the sun is the universal illuminator. Similarly, the kshetri (the owner/knower of the field — the Self) illumines the entire kshetram (the entire field — the body-mind with all its functions). Without the light of the Self's consciousness, no thought could be thought, no sensation felt, no action taken. The Self is the light of awareness that illumines all experience. This is the final teaching of Chapter 13.