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Chapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation · 78 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Soul & knowledgeChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation
18.1718.19

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.18

The factors of action and the true doer

Karma · Action

ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना ।

करणं कर्म कर्तेति त्रिविध: कर्मसङ्‍ग्रह: ॥ १८ ॥

jñānaṁ jñeyaṁ parijñātā

tri-vidhā karma-codanā

karaṇaṁ karma karteti

tri-vidhaḥ karma-saṅgrahaḥ

Translation

Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower are the three factors that motivate action; the senses, the work and the doer are the three constituents of action.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

What Leads to Action

  1. 1

    Knowledge, the object of knowledge and the knower motivate action. The senses, the work and the doer make up action.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that thinking, feeling and willing come before action. Work then happens through the senses, including the mind.

  3. 3

    Draw inspiration for your work from scripture or the spiritual master's instruction.

Key points from the purport

Three motivators and three constituents of action

Action is motivated by knower knowing the known, in other words activity is motivated by a person (knower) perceiving a desirable object/goal. Being thus inspired, action is carried out by senses with effort (work), exerted by Karta (doer)

Thus explains

Three motivators of action – Knowledge, object of knowledge and the Knower

Three Constituents of action – Senses, work and the doer

a

Inspiration — Before one acts, there is some impetus which is called inspiration

b

Work — Any solution arrived at before work is actualized is a subtle form of work. Then work takes the form of action

c

Impetus — First one has to undergo the psychological process of thinking, feeling and willing and that is called impetus

d

Guru or Sastra — Inspiration to work is the same if it comes from scripture or from instruction of spiritual master

e

Accumulation of work — That is the sum total of all constituents of an activity

Connected verses · 1

Texts 18.18 & 18.19

By elaborating on the motives and constituents of action, Krishna, here in Text 18.18, finishes His summary of jnana. In pursuing that topic, Krishna will again describe the effects of the three modes of nature (as He did in Chapters Fourteen and Seventeen) in the next series of verses, Texts 18.19–18.40. He begins by confirming that even the motivators of action and the constituents of action are under the dictates of the modes of nature. He first speaks of knowledge (one of the motivators), action (one of the constituents) and the performer of action (another of the constituents)

Further reading

Summary Of Chapters 13 – 17: Jnana Section

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

Chapter 18, section II: Summary Of Chapters 13 – 17: Jnana Section
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jñānamknowledge
  2. jñeyamthe objective of knowledge
  3. parijñātāthe knower
  4. tri-vidhāof three kinds
  5. karmaof work
  6. codanāthe impetus
  7. karaṇamthe senses
  8. karmathe work
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.18 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?

Practice

Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 18.13The factors of action and the true doerBG 18.14The factors of action and the true doerBG 2.13The self endures bodily changeBG 4.34The humility of real inquiry
Live this todayWorship Kṛṣṇa Through Your WorkA practice from BG 18.46, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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