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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 ›
Nature & guṇasChapter 18 · The Perfection of Renunciation
18.1818.20

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.19

Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modes

Prakṛti · Material nature

ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ता च त्रिधैव गुणभेदत: ।

प्रोच्यते गुणसंख्याने यथावच्छृणु तान्यपि ॥ १९ ॥

jñānaṁ karma ca kartā ca

tridhaiva guṇa-bhedataḥ

procyate guṇa-saṅkhyāne

yathāvac chṛṇu tāny api

Translation

According to the three different modes of material nature, there are three kinds of knowledge, action and performer of action. Now hear of them from Me.

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

Three Modes of Material Nature

  1. 1

    Knowledge, action, and workers are divided into three kinds according to the modes of material nature.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that goodness is illuminating, passion is materialistic, and ignorance leads to laziness.

  3. 3

    All three modes are binding. Even goodness keeps one conditioned and is not a source of liberation.

Key points from the purport

Three kinds of knowledge, action and performer are explained henceforth

39 are included under the respective text themes. Therefore there are no separate ‘Focus of Learning’ sections for these verses

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

The Modes Control All Activities

One’s work according to the five factors mentioned above is dictated by the three modes of material nature

This includes:

One’s knowledge (19-22) o One’s action (23-26)

One’s performance of action (27-28) o One’s understandings (29-32)

One’s determination(33-35) o One’s happiness (36-39)

All activities within the universe are thus controlled by the three modes SAKAMA TO NISKAMA KARMA YOGA

Chapter 18, section III: The Modes Control All Activities
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jñānamknowledge
  2. karmawork
  3. caalso
  4. kartāworker
  5. caalso
  6. tridhāof three kinds
  7. evacertainly
  8. guṇa-bhedataḥin terms of different modes of material nature
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: prakṛti, guṇa.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 18.19 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to nature & guṇas?

Practice

Observe which mode shaped your last decision.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 18.20Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modesBG 18.21Knowledge, action, determination and happiness in the modesBG 7.14Crossing beyond māyā
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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