Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 13 (BG 18.13) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

Regarding the threefold renunciation, the Blessed Lord Sri Krishna had spoken of the person who performs action without ego and without attachment as a sattvic renunciate. Therefore, it is natural that Arjun's mind becomes filled with the desire to understand the true nature of action. For this reason, in the present section, the Blessed Lord Sri Krishna describes both the gross form of action as well as its subtle nature—its inspiration, purpose, and other aspects. To accomplish any worldly or spiritual action, five causes are necessary. These are, as it were, the limbs of action, without which the fulfillment of action cannot be achieved. If a person wishes to regulate and organize his actions properly and thereby accomplish inner cultural development, then he requires great courage, continuity of purpose, self-confidence, and intellectual capacity. Therefore, the Blessed Lord here addresses Arjun by the name Mahabaho—the mighty-armed one—and calls forth his heroic spirit. The description of the five causes necessary for the accomplishment of action is found in the Sankhya philosophy. Here, the term Sankhya refers to Vedanta, not to the Sankhya philosophy of the sage Kapila, for such a description is not found in that system. The word "kritanta" used in this verse is a qualifier of Sankhya. Kritanta means the end of actions. When the knowledge of the Self, as taught in Vedanta, is attained, the ego comes to an end, and with it, the cessation of one's actions follows. Therefore, Vedanta is characterized as kritanta. In the next verse, those five causes are explained.