Chapter 13, Verse 23 (Bhagavad Gita 13.23)
Sanskrit Shloka
उपद्रष्टाऽनुमन्ता च भर्ता भोक्ता महेश्वरः।परमात्मेति चाप्युक्तो देहेऽस्मिन्पुरुषः परः
Transliteration
upadraṣhṭānumantā cha bhartā bhoktā maheśhvaraḥ paramātmeti chāpy ukto dehe ’smin puruṣhaḥ paraḥ
Word Meanings
upadraṣhṭā—the witness; anumantā—the permitter; cha—and; bhartā—the supporter; bhoktā—the transcendental enjoyer; mahā-īśhvaraḥ—the ultimate controller; parama-ātmā—Superme Soul; iti—that; cha api—and also; uktaḥ—is said; dehe—within the body; asmin—this; puruṣhaḥ paraḥ—the Supreme Lord
Translation
The Supreme Lord Krishna says: 'The Supreme Soul within this body is also known as the Witness, the Permitter, the Sustainer, the Enjoyer, the Great Lord, and the Supreme Self.'
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Bhagwan Shri Krishna explains that He resides within every living being as the Indwelling Witness (Paramatma). He is not merely a distant observer, but the one who permits our actions and sustains our very existence through His divine energy. By realizing that Shri Krishna is the ultimate Enjoyer and the true Master of our lives, the seeker transcends the egoistic sense of being a 'doer.' This inner awakening leads to liberation, as one begins to perceive the presence of Lord Krishna in all hearts. Ultimately, this wisdom invites the soul to surrender its false identity and find eternal peace in union with the Supreme Divine.