In this final part, Krishna imparts the deepest wisdom about self-knowledge, the qualities that influence behavior, distinguishing virtue from vice, and ultimately brings Arjuna to his final resolve – ready to act with clarity, courage, and complete alignment with his principles.
This is Part 3 of a 3-part series:
- Part 1: Foundation (Chapters 1-6)
- Part 2: Development (Chapters 7-12)
- Part 3: Culmination (Chapters 13-18) – You are here
Chapter 13: Know Yourself – Distinguishing the Self from the Surroundings
Chapter 13 shifts into philosophical mode, defining what is "the field" and "the knower of the field." In plain terms, Krishna is urging Arjuna to develop self-knowledge – to understand the difference between who he really is and what he experiences.
Think of "the field" as the entire realm of matter, experience, and phenomena – which includes Arjuna's body, his senses, his thoughts and emotions, and the external world. The "knower of the field" is the conscious observer – Arjuna's awareness itself, his capacity to observe and choose. In modern psychological terms, this is distinguishing between the mind's contents and the mind's witness.
For example, if Arjuna feels fear, that fear is part of the field (an experience), but there is a part of Arjuna that can notice "I am afraid" – that part is the observer self, potentially free from fear. This concept underlies many modern therapy techniques: when you feel overwhelmed, learn to say "This is anger or anxiety I am feeling, but I am not that anger or anxiety." That little bit of separation grants power over the feeling.
Krishna goes further to enumerate qualities of one who has true knowledge: humility, non-attachment, patience, etc. In a secular interpretation, real understanding isn't just an intellectual grasp, but is shown in one's character and attitude. A person who "knows themselves" becomes naturally humble and forgiving.
Krishna also returns to the theme of seeing the same self in all beings. When you realize everyone has this inner observer/self, you understand we are fundamentally alike. This viewpoint can greatly increase Arjuna's empathy and sense of justice.
Insight: "Know thyself" – not just as a personality, but as the awareness behind your thoughts and feelings. You are the observer of your body and mind, not just a hapless victim of them. By identifying with that inner witness, you gain space to choose your response to any situation.
Chapter 14: Rising Above Nature's Influence – The Three Qualities of Behavior
Krishna continues exploring human nature by introducing the three gunas – fundamental qualities that influence behavior: Sattva (clarity/harmony), Rajas (passion/activity), and Tamas (inertia/ignorance). Think of these as three basic psychological states that everyone has in different proportions at different times.
Sattva is a state of balance, peace, and understanding. When Arjuna is in a sattvic mindset, he feels calm, enlightened, and content.
Rajas is a state of energy, desire, and restlessness. It drives action. When Arjuna feels ambitious, competitive, or anxious to achieve something, that's rajas at work.
Tamas is a state of darkness, confusion, and stagnation. Arjuna experiences tamas when he's depressed, lazy, or refusing to face reality.
Krishna explains these qualities arise from nature and they bind the person by attachment. Sattva binds through attachment to knowledge and happiness. Rajas binds through endless pursuits and desires. Tamas binds through negligence and dullness.
For Arjuna, understanding this is crucial self-awareness. He can now identify, say, "I'm feeling a rush of rajasic anger" or "Tamas is creeping in; I'm tempted to give up." By naming these states, he doesn't have to be ruled by them.
Krishna encourages Arjuna to cultivate Sattva – strive for clarity, goodness, and balance – but even beyond that, not to get egotistical about being sattvic. The ultimate goal is to become "beyond the gunas," where Arjuna's sense of self and happiness is not dictated by whether he feels calm or excited or gloomy on a given day.
Krishna describes this person as one who "is the same in pleasure and pain, regards praise or blame alike, is unchanged by honor or dishonor." They have moods but are not defined by them.
Insight: We are all influenced by different natural moods or qualities. Know these states in yourself. Encourage the state of clarity and balance, but be wary of even that turning into self-satisfaction. The ultimate freedom is when you aren't ruled by any mood – when you remain true to your values and duties whether you feel up or down.
Chapter 15: The Tree of Life – Cutting Through Illusion to Find the Self
Krishna offers Arjuna a vivid metaphor: a grand inverted tree with roots above and branches below. This represents the world of appearances, the entangled life we live. The key teaching is straightforward: to reach the truth, you must cut through this tree of illusion with the axe of detachment.
For Arjuna, the branches of this tree could be all the anxieties, distractions, and attachments pulling at him: attachment to family, his own life and comfort, confusion about duty, societal pressures about honor. Krishna tells him: Visualize all this as a vast tree. Now – take the sharp axe of discernment and non-attachment, and hack it down.
This doesn't mean destroy life; it means sever your ties to the illusionary aspect of life – the part that makes you forget who you really are and what your purpose is. By cutting that tree, Arjuna can find his way to his highest potential or authentic self, free from illusion.
Krishna outlines characteristics of someone who has attained this: they are free from pride and delusion, have conquered attachment, are focused on the Self (their true identity), and are free of material desires.
Another allegory is that the worldly self is like a fragment that takes on a body and leaves it. Our core identity isn't the body; the body and circumstances change, but something continuous (our character, our consciousness) carries on through those changes. The wise focus on that continuous essence.
Insight: Life as we normally live it can be like an upside-down tree, with our priorities inverted. To find your true self and purpose, you must be willing to cut through these illusions. Detach from incessant cravings, fears, and false identities. When you strip away the nonessential, you discover your highest self – the part of you rooted in truth and principle.
Chapter 16: The Two Paths – Cultivating Virtue, Avoiding Vice
Krishna gives Arjuna a straightforward breakdown of qualities of character – dividing them into "divine" qualities (those that lead upward toward liberation) and "demonic" qualities (those that lead downward into suffering and chaos). It's basically a list of virtues vs vices.
Virtues: fearlessness in standing for the right, purity of heart, generosity, self-control, gentleness, truthfulness, steadfastness, modesty.
Vices: arrogance, anger, conceit, harshness, ignorance, deceit, and cruelty.
Arjuna can identify these in people around him: the Kauravas exhibit demonic traits – Duryodhana's arrogance and greed started the war. But importantly, these qualities exist in all individuals to varying degrees. Every person has a choice to gravitate to one set or the other.
Krishna explains that those with demonic tendencies are full of insatiable desires, pride, and impulses to dominate. They have no regard for ethics. They often view life cynically – no truth, no higher purpose – so they justify selfish and cruel actions.
One notable line is Krishna saying that desire, anger, and greed are the three gates to hell (a state of misery and degradation). These three are the drivers of "demonic" behavior. Arjuna should guard against these. The antidotes are contentment, forgiveness, and generosity.
Chapter 16 is about moral fiber. It tells Arjuna that beyond strategies and skills, his moral character will determine his true victory. Because even if one wins the war but loses one's soul (turns evil in the process), that's a real defeat.
Insight: There are two fundamental pathways: one built on virtues (honesty, courage, kindness) which leads to growth; another built on vices (arrogance, violence, greed) which leads to self-destruction. Regularly check your behavior against these qualities. Your true victory in life is defined not just by external success, but by the character you forge.
Chapter 17: The Spectrum of Faith – Different Approaches to Goodness
Arjuna asks about those who are sincere but follow different philosophies. Krishna explains that even our faith and lifestyle align with the three qualities – sattva, rajas, tamas. This chapter discusses different mindsets people have when pursuing what they think is good.
Some people have a sattvic faith – their convictions lead to genuine wisdom, compassion, and well-being. Others have a rajasic faith – fervent and passionate but mixed with ego or personal gain. Then there's tamasic faith – misguided, based on fear or harmful delusions.
In modern terms, we can interpret "faith" as one's guiding beliefs or values:
- A sattvic mindset values rational ethics, universal compassion, and moderation.
- A rajasic mindset values power, excitement, and recognition – doing good things competitively or for show.
- A tamasic mindset involves superstition, ignorance, or destructive ideals.
Krishna gives concrete examples: sattvic foods are wholesome and fresh; rajasic are overly stimulating; tamasic are stale or harmful. Sattvic charity is giving with no expectation; rajasic charity is giving with strings attached; tamasic charity is giving insultingly or causing harm.
For Arjuna, this breakdown helps him judge the best way to carry out positive acts – doing them with balance and humility (sattvic) is best. It also warns him against false righteousness in others.
Krishna ultimately encourages cultivating a pure (sattvic) faith – have beliefs and practices that are reasoned, compassionate, and constructive.
Insight: People pursue ideals in different ways – some with genuine wisdom, some with pride, some with harmful zeal. It's not enough to do the right thing; one must do it in the right spirit. Examine your belief system: Is it truly fostering health, clarity, and empathy? Refine your way of living by purifying your intentions.
Chapter 18: The Final Resolve – Liberation through Responsibility and Surrender
The Bhagavad Gita concludes with Chapter 18, a grand summary and final exhortation. Krishna revisits many themes and brings Arjuna to the point of decision. This chapter is about achieving inner freedom (moksha) even as one engages in worldly responsibilities, and the idea of surrendering to one's highest principles.
Krishna clarifies: true renunciation isn't abandoning action, but relinquishing attachment to results and selfish motives. The one who does so attains peace. For Arjuna, this means he will fight, but without the ego that "I am the doer who must enjoy victory or suffer defeat." This mental state is liberating; it frees him from anxieties while still motivating him to excel.
Krishna systematically reviews how different aspects of life can be sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic:
- Knowledge: Sattvic sees unity in all life; Rajasic sees only distinctions; Tamasic is limited.
- Action: Sattvic is dutiful without attachment; Rajasic is for gain or ego; Tamasic is heedless.
- Happiness: Sattvic is "poison at first, nectar later" (discipline leading to satisfaction); Rajasic seems sweet first but bitter later (overindulgence); Tamasic is delusion throughout.
For Arjuna, these distinctions serve as a final checklist: choose the sattvic path in all things. It will be challenging, but ultimately it's nectar.
Krishna also revisits "one's own duty" (swadharma) – saying it's better to do your own duty imperfectly than to do another's well. This emphasizes authenticity and responsibility. Arjuna's duty is that of a warrior in this context; he must embrace it rather than wish to be something he's not.
As the discourse ends, Krishna makes a loving plea: "Focus your mind on your highest ideals, dedicate yourself to them, humble yourself before Truth – and you will become one with that Truth." He even says "abandon all other duties and surrender to me alone" – meaning: let go of competing concerns and surrender to the highest moral law. Let that guide you solely.
After imparting all this, Krishna turns it back to Arjuna: "I have given you wisdom more secret than all secrets. Reflect on it fully and then do as you wish." This is critical: Arjuna's free will is honored. No philosophy absolves us from making our own decision.
Arjuna at last speaks his resolve: his delusion is gone, he remembers who he is (his true self) and what his duty is, and he will act. In plain language, Arjuna says: "I get it now. I'm ready to do what we've decided is right." This is the moment of integration – his mind, heart, and actions are aligned.
We can imagine Arjuna rising on his chariot, transformed from the trembling man in Chapter 1 to a calm warrior-sage in Chapter 18. He will fight fiercely, but without hatred; lead armies, but without pride; win a kingdom, but without selfish greed. He is liberated while still very much alive and active – which is the ultimate message of the Gita: real freedom is carrying out your responsibilities with wisdom and grace.
Insight: At the end of all deliberation, one must choose and act. Dedicate yourself fully to the highest good you know, and attain both success and inner freedom. Let go of selfish attachments – "surrender" means entrust yourself to your highest values completely. When you do this, your mind becomes clear, your heart steady. Then take action without hesitation. True liberation isn't escaping life, but performing your role with such wisdom and selflessness that, inwardly, you are always free.
Conclusion: The Timeless Message
Arjuna's journey from confusion to clarity reflects our own potential journey with any tough moral choice: gather knowledge, check your motives, align with principle, then go forward resolutely, letting go of doubt.
The Bhagavad Gita, read through a secular lens, offers a framework for living with purpose, equanimity, and wisdom. Its teachings aren't about escaping life's challenges but facing them with clarity and courage.
Whether you're facing a career decision, a relationship conflict, a leadership challenge, or simply trying to live a meaningful life, these principles offer guidance:
- Act according to your duty
- Focus on effort, not outcomes
- Maintain equanimity in success and failure
- Know yourself deeply
- Stay engaged while remaining free
The wisdom is timeless. The application is yours to discover.
Read the Complete Series
- Part 1: Foundation (Chapters 1-6) – From despair to self-mastery
- Part 2: Development (Chapters 7-12) – Vision, devotion, and transformation
- Part 3: Culmination (Chapters 13-18) – Self-knowledge and final resolve
This is part of my philosophical blog series where I explore timeless wisdom and its modern applications. Read more articles →