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Study a Verse
Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 13.30
प्रकृत्यैव च कर्माणि क्रियमाणानि सर्वश: ।
य: पश्यति तथात्मानमकर्तारं स पश्यति ॥ ३० ॥
prakṛtyaiva ca karmāṇi
kriyamāṇāni sarvaśaḥ
yaḥ paśyati tathātmānam
akartāraṁ sa paśyati
One who can see that all activities are performed by the body, which is created of material nature, and sees that the self does nothing, actually sees.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
One who truly sees understands that the body, made of material nature, performs all activities, while the self does nothing.
Prabhupāda explains that the body is a machine designed by the Supreme Lord and given according to one’s past desires.
Practice seeing the self as separate from bodily activities, including bodily happiness and distress.
Further describes the man who “actually sees” in real knowledge
He sees that “Neither he nor others are acting”
All activities are performed by the body, which is created by material nature (purport)
Body (like a machine) is given by the Lord according to past desires and karma
All acts are forced according to bodily constitution
Soul is outside bodily activities
Those who see the distinction between the body, its owner and the Supersoul, and who recognize the process of liberation, can attain the Supreme goal (13.35)
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 13.30 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?
Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.