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Chapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness · 29 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Soul & knowledgeChapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

5.13 5.15

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 5.14

Knowledge and equal vision

Prakṛti · Material nature

न कर्तृत्वं न कर्माणि लोकस्य सृजति प्रभु: ।

न कर्मफलसंयोगं स्वभावस्तु प्रवर्तते ॥ १४ ॥

na kartṛtvaṁ na karmāṇi

lokasya sṛjati prabhuḥ

na karma-phala-saṁyogaṁ

svabhāvas tu pravartate

Translation

The embodied spirit, master of the city of his body, does not create activities, nor does he induce people to act, nor does he create the fruits of action. All this is enacted by the modes of material nature.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

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

3 study points

The Soul and Material Nature

1
The embodied soul does not create actions, make others act, or produce results. The modes of material nature do this.
2
Prabhupāda explains that the soul is distinct from matter but suffers by wrongly identifying with the temporary body.
3
Turn to Kṛṣṇa consciousness: the purport says this alone saves the soul from all material turmoil.

Key points from the purport

One in Knowledge perceives, therefore the material nature as the cause of worldly actions

Living entities as one of the energies — It is a superior energy as compared to matter which is the inferior energy (Ref. Bg. 7.5)

Ignorance is the cause of suffering

Soul is in contact with the material nature since time immemorial

Temporary body is the cause of varieties of activities and resultant reactions

In ignorance one identifies with the activities of the body and suffers the result FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 5.14 continued…

Living entity is not the ‘so-called’ master

As long as he is in the city of the body, he appears to be master of it (indicated by the word “prabhuh”)

He is neither the proprietor nor the controller of the actions and reactions of the body

Analogy: Waves of material ocean are simply tossing him in the struggle for existence

Best solution to save living entities from all turmoil — Get out of the water by transcendental Krishna consciousness

Platform Of Knowledge – Knowing The Three Doers

The living being (Doer No. 1) who knows that all bodily activities are automatically carried out by the modes of material nature (Doer No. 2), after those activities are sanctioned by the Supersoul (Doer No. 3), attains enlightenment thorough that knowledge

Chapter 5, section III: Platform Of Knowledge – Knowing The Three Doers