Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 19 (BG 18.19) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

18.19 ज्ञानम् knowledge? कर्म action? च and? कर्ता actor? च and? त्रिधा of three kinds? एव only? गुणभेदतः according to the distinction of Gunas? प्रोच्यते are declared? गुणसंख्याने in the science of Gunas (Sankhya philosophy)? यथावत् duly? श्रृणु hear? तानि them? अपि also.Commentary The three alities overpower the whole of creation with their special nature and bring it entirely under their control. The nature of action? the actor and his knowledge are threefold according to the Gunas that is predominant. If all the three are Sattvic? then the action will not bind the man.Karta The doer of the actions.The science of the Gunas here referred to is Kapilas system of philosophy. Though the Sankhya system is opposed to Vedanta with reference to the Supreme Truth? viz.? the oneness or nonduality of Brahman? yet it is an authority on the science of the Gunas.I shall describe knowledge? action and actor? as also their various distinctions caused by different Gunas? scientifically and rationally. Hear My teachings? O Arjuna? with rapt attention. You will be immensely benefited.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

In the verses that follow, the subject matter is merely indicated here. In the Fourteenth Chapter, a detailed description was given of the characteristics, functions, and effects of the three gunas of nature—sattva, rajas, and tamas. It is due to the predominance of any one of these three gunas, or their combination in various proportions, or the permutation of their precedence, that such diversity is seen in the nature and actions of different individuals. Moreover, even in the life of a single person, there is constant change due to these gunas at different times. The term "guna-sankhyana" here refers to the Sankhya philosophy of the sage Kapila. The Sankhya system of philosophy gives special description of the functioning of the three gunas. "Yathavat" means in accordance with reason and scripture—that is, supported by both scripture and logic. Arjuna was already listening to the teaching, yet the Lord's words "Listen" suggest that the Blessed One desires that Arjuna should listen to the following subject with special attention. The subject matter to be discussed has particular significance. First, the three types of knowledge are described.