The Yoga of the Field and the Knower of the Field

Krishna prepares to give a comprehensive description of the field. He'll explain what the field is (the body), its nature (material elements), its modifications (changes and transformations), its source (prakriti), the knower (consciousness), and the knower's powers (awareness, perception). This verse sets up the detailed explanation that follows. Most people never examine the field they're living in. They just experience it, identify with it, suffer from its changes. But understanding the field—what it is, how it works, where it comes from—is essential for recognizing the distinction between field and knower. You can't separate yourself from what you don't understand.