⚖️ Chapter 18 – The Fivefold Truth of Action (Shlokas 12–22) | Are You Really the Doer?
Shloka 12 – Three Types of Fruits of Action
Sanskrit:
अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मण: फलम्।
भवत्यत्यागिनां प्रेत्य न तु संन्यासिनां क्वचित्॥
Hindi Translation:
कर्म का फल — अनिष्ट (दुख), इष्ट (सुख) और मिश्रित — तीन प्रकार का होता है, यह त्याग न करने वालों को मिलता है; त्यागी को नहीं।
English Translation:
The threefold fruit of action—desirable, undesirable, and mixed—arises for those who do not renounce. For renouncers, there is none.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Attachment ensures karma binds you. But the tyagi, who acts without craving, is untouched by the ups and downs of result.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Freedom isn’t found in **no action**, but in **non-clinging**. Do what’s right, and release the scoreboard.
Shloka 13 – Five Causes of Every Action
Sanskrit:
पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे।
साङ्ख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम्॥
Hindi Translation:
हे महाबाहो! सम्पूर्ण कर्मों की सिद्धि के लिए जो पाँच कारण हैं, उन्हें मैं संख्याशास्त्र के अनुसार बताता हूँ।
English Translation:
O mighty-armed one, learn from me the five causes for the completion of all actions, as explained in Sankhya philosophy.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Action is not a solo act. Krishna is about to reveal that what we call “my effort” is only **part of the equation.**
🪔 Modern Insight:
If you think success or failure is *all on you*, you’re forgetting the unseen forces at play. **Humility > control.**
Shloka 14 – The Fivefold Machinery of Karma
Sanskrit:
अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम्।
विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम्॥
Hindi Translation:
कर्म के पाँच कारण हैं — (1) शरीर (अधिष्ठान), (2) कर्ता, (3) इन्द्रियाँ, (4) विविध प्रयास, (5) दैव (ईश्वरीय इच्छा)।
English Translation:
The five causes of action are: the body (seat of action), the doer (ego), the instruments (senses), various efforts, and divine will.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Your effort is real—but incomplete. The Divine (Daivam) is the hidden **5th gear** in the machine of karma.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Work hard. Train well. But **never forget grace**. You are a co-creator, not a controller.
Shloka 15 – All Action is Done Through These Five
Sanskrit:
शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नर:।
न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पञ्चैते तस्य हेतव:॥
Hindi Translation:
मनुष्य जो भी कार्य शरीर, वाणी और मन से करता है — चाहे धर्मयुक्त हो या अधर्मयुक्त — वह इन पाँच कारणों से होता है।
English Translation:
Whatever action a man performs with body, speech, or mind—righteous or otherwise—is caused by these five factors.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Even wrong action flows from this same structure. That’s why **understanding yourself deeply is key to choosing rightly.**
🪔 Modern Insight:
Own your role—but not as an isolated doer. See the bigger karmic matrix. It builds compassion—for others and self.
Shloka 16 – Ego: The Great Misunderstanding
Sanskrit:
तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु य:।
पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न स पश्यति दुर्मति:॥
Hindi Translation:
जो मूढ़ व्यक्ति केवल आत्मा को ही कर्ता समझता है, वह सच्चाई को नहीं जानता — उसकी बुद्धि विकृत होती है।
English Translation:
He who considers the Self alone as the doer, due to unrefined intellect, does not see truly and is of deluded understanding.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Identifying only with the ego is **spiritual blindness**. You are the spark, but not the spark plug, engine, and road.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Don’t carry the world on your shoulders. That’s ego pretending to be God. **Align. Don’t over-claim.**
Shloka 17 – Who is Truly Free?
Sanskrit:
यस्य नाहंक्रितो भावो बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यते।
हत्वापि स इमाँल्लोकान्न हन्ति न निबध्यते॥
Hindi Translation:
जिसके भीतर अहंकार नहीं है, जिसकी बुद्धि शुद्ध है — वह यदि युद्ध करे भी, तो न हत्यारा है न बंधन में पड़ता है।
English Translation:
One who is free from ego and whose intellect is untainted—even if they slay others, does not slay and is not bound.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Freedom is not found in what you do, but in **how you hold yourself while doing it.** Pure awareness acts but is untouched.
🪔 Modern Insight:
Guilt fades when ego fades. Let your action come from clarity, not clinging. **Then karma becomes liberation.**
Shloka 18 – Threefold Stimuli of Action
Sanskrit:
ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना।
करणं कर्म कर्तेति त्रिविध: कर्मसंग्रह:॥
Hindi Translation:
ज्ञान (ज्ञान), ज्ञेय (जो जाना जाए) और ज्ञाता (जानने वाला) — ये कर्म के प्रेरक हैं। करण (उपकरण), कर्म (कार्य) और कर्ता — ये तीन कर्म का समुच्चय हैं।
English Translation:
Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower—these are the threefold motivators of action. The instrument, the act, and the doer—form the triad of action.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Krishna dissects karma into subtle anatomy: **why you act**, **what you use**, **who does it**, and **what you know.**
🪔 Modern Insight:
Real growth starts with **becoming conscious** of your choices, biases, and motivations. This is inner leadership.
Shloka 19 – Threefold Knowledge Defined
Sanskrit:
ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ता च त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः।
प्रोच्यते गुणसङ्ख्याने यथावच्छृणु तान्यपि॥
Hindi Translation:
ज्ञान, कर्म और कर्ता — तीनों को गुणों के अनुसार तीन प्रकार का कहा गया है। अब मैं उन्हें विस्तार से बताता हूँ।
English Translation:
Knowledge, action, and the doer are each declared to be of three kinds, according to the gunas. Hear them from Me now.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Krishna is preparing us to **self-diagnose our consciousness.** How you see, do, and live—are they sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic?
🪔 Modern Insight:
Your mindset isn’t random—it’s shaped by tendencies (gunas). Start noticing your **lens**, not just your life.
Shloka 20 – Sattvic Knowledge
Sanskrit:
सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते।
अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम्॥
Hindi Translation:
जो ज्ञान सब प्राणियों में एक अविनाशी सत्ता को देखता है — विविधता में अद्वैत — वह सात्त्विक ज्ञान है।
English Translation:
That knowledge by which one sees the one imperishable reality in all beings, undivided in the divided, is known as Sattvic knowledge.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
The highest knowledge sees **unity in diversity**. The same spirit lives in all — no matter the form, race, belief, or species.
🪔 Modern Insight:
If your vision brings compassion and oneness, it’s sattvic. You don’t just look—you **see with soul.**
Shloka 21 – Rajasic Knowledge
Sanskrit:
पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान्।
वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम्॥
Hindi Translation:
जो ज्ञान केवल विभिन्नताओं को देखता है, जो विविध रूपों में एकता नहीं देख पाता — वह राजसिक ज्ञान है।
English Translation:
That knowledge which sees various beings as separate and different in every way—that knowledge is Rajasic.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Rajasic knowledge gets stuck in **labels, appearances, and ego boundaries.** It sees only division and forgets the whole.
🪔 Modern Insight:
The more you label — “me vs. them,” “right vs. wrong,” “mine vs. not mine” — the more fragmented your mind becomes. **Unity heals.**
Shloka 22 – Tamasic Knowledge
Sanskrit:
यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम्।
अत्वार्थवदल्पं च तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्॥
Hindi Translation:
जो ज्ञान एक पक्ष को ही सब कुछ मानता है, बिना युक्ति और सत्य के — वह तामसिक है।
English Translation:
That knowledge which clings to a single effect as if it were the whole, without logic or truth, and which is narrow—is declared Tamasic.
🔍 Deep Reflection:
Tamasic knowledge is blind belief — rigid, biased, unquestioning. It ignores the broader reality and **clings to illusion.**
🪔 Modern Insight:
Be careful what you believe — not all knowledge is wise. **Check your sources. Check your assumptions. Check your clarity.**
📜 Ancient Verse – Modern Wisdom
| Shloka | Vedic Insight | Modern Application |
|---|---|---|
| 18.19 | Knowledge, action, and doer vary by guna | Understand your inner mode before acting |
| 18.20 | Sattvic knowledge sees unity in all | Be inclusive, holistic, and soul-connected |
| 18.21 | Rajasic knowledge creates division | Beware ego-driven opinions and biases |
| 18.22 | Tamasic knowledge is rigid and irrational | Break free from blind spots and old programming |
🧘 Message to Gen Z
- Your truth matters — but so does how you see others’ truth.
- Sattvic perception is about seeing **connection, not separation**.
- Don’t let outdated biases shape your worldview. Upgrade your vision.
- Always ask: is what I “know” helping me grow—or keeping me stuck?
- Real wisdom isn’t loud — it’s **clear, calm, and kind.**