Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 15 (BG 18.15)

જીવો ગીતા

Preparing your translation...

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते

You have the right to act...

Preparing your translation...

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते

You have the right to act...

મુખપૃષ્ઠ

મુખપૃષ્ઠ જ્ઞાન અભ્યાસક્રમ સમુદાય સાચવેલા ગોઠવણી

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 15 — Meaning & Commentary | Live Gita

← 18.14

BG 18.15 Sign in to save

18.16→

शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः |
न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः ||१८-१५||

śarīravāṅmanobhiryatkarma prārabhate naraḥ . nyāyyaṃ vā viparītaṃ vā pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ ||18-15||

Whatever action a man performs with his body, speech and mind whether right or the reverse these five are its causes.

In simple words

Krishna says: "Whatever action a person performs — whether with body, speech, or mind, whether right or wrong — these five factors are behind it."

Word-by-word meanings

शरीरवाङ्मनोभिःby (his) body speech and mindयत्whateverकर्मactionप्रारभतेperformsनरःmanन्याय्यम्rightवाorविपरीतम्the reverseवाorपञ्चfiveएतेtheseतस्यitsहेतवःcauses

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

Swami Sivananda

18.15 शरीरवाङ्मनोभिः by (his) body? speech and mind? यत् whatever? कर्म action? प्रारभते performs? नरः man? न्याय्यम् right? वा or? विपरीतम् the reverse? वा or? पञ्च five? एते these? तस्य its? हेतवः causes.Commentary Nyayyam Right Not opposed to Dharma conformable to the scriptures justifiable.Viparitam The opposite What is opposite to Dharma and opposed to the scriptures unjustifiable.Even those actions? -- acts like winking and the like which are necessary conditions of life? are indicated by the term the right and the reverse? as they are effects of past Dharma and Adharma.Tasya Hetavah Its Causes The causes of every action.An objector argues In the previous verse it is said that the body? actor? various organs? etc.? are the necessary factors of every action. Why do you then make a distinction in actions by saying whatever action a man does by the body? speech and mindOur answer is In the performance of every action? one of the three -- body? speech or mind -- has a more prominent share than the others while seeing? hearing and other activities which accompany or go along with life are subordinate to that one.Therefore all actions are classified under three groups and are spoken of as done by the body or speech or mind. The fruit of an actions also is enjoyed through the body? speech and mind and one of the three takes a more prominent share than the rest. Therefore? it is proper to say Whatever action a man performs with his body? speech and mind৷৷.

Swami Chinmayananda

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.

Your reflection

to save your reflections on each verse.

Want to explore this verse deeper?

← 18.14 18.16→

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

Swami Sivananda

Swami Chinmayananda

Right and wrong actions refer respectively to those in accordance with dharma and those contrary to dharma. Without exception, five causes are necessary for the accomplishment of all kinds of actions: the body and other instruments. Here, a matter worthy of special attention is this: the description of the five causes of actions pertains only to the engine beneath the hood—not to the petrol. Without petrol, the engine cannot function, and petrol alone cannot make a journey successful and pleasant. It is through the relationship between engine and petrol that the vehicle gains motion, and then the driver, according to the master's will, can bring it to its destination. Once this example is understood, the meaning of Lord Sri Krishna's teaching will become clear. The atman, which is actionless and of the nature of consciousness, identifies itself with the body and other limiting conditions, and in the form of the individual soul, impelled by countless desires, performs both appropriate and inappropriate actions. For all these actions, the five causes mentioned above are necessary. The conclusion of the two preceding verses is this: the sense of doership in human beings is false. The Lord declares:

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.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 15 (BG 18.15) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

Commentaries

Your reflection

Your reflection

Commentaries