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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.16
तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु य: ।
पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न स पश्यति दुर्मति: ॥ १६ ॥
tatraivaṁ sati kartāram
ātmānaṁ kevalaṁ tu yaḥ
paśyaty akṛta-buddhitvān
na sa paśyati durmatiḥ
Therefore one who thinks himself the only doer, not considering the five factors, is certainly not very intelligent and cannot see things as they are.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
One who ignores the five factors and thinks himself the only doer cannot see things as they are.
The Supersoul sits within as a friend and conducts our actions. Beyond the four material causes, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the final cause.
Recognize the Supreme’s role in your actions instead of thinking you act alone.
Non-intelligent seer defined
Does not consider the final doer, the Supreme Lord
It is not intelligent to consider oneself as independent doer of one’s actions
Texts 18.15 & 18.16
Krishna categorizes action into three — that performed with the body, mind or words. Action in all three categories can be performed either according to sastric injunctions or against them. In either case, however, it is the Supersoul who ultimately sanctions all action. This is confirmed as follows.
Krishna cites Vedanta and analyzes activities as comprised of five factors; this is to help us perform activities without becoming bound
Most prominent of these factors is the Supersoul
Acting under the Supersoul’s direction, one is unaffected by reactions to his actions
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 18.16 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.