FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 18.13

पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे । सांख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम् ॥ १३ ॥
pañcaitāni mahā-bāho
[panchaitaani mahaa-baaho]
kāraṇāni nibodha me
[kaaranaani nibodha me]
sāṅkhye kṛtānte proktāni
[saankhye kritaante proktaani]
siddhaye sarva-karmaṇām
[siddhaye sarva-karmanaam]
Word-for-word
pañca — five etāni — these mahā - bāho — O mighty-armed one kāraṇāni — causes nibodha — just understand me — from Me sāṅkhye — in the Vedānta kṛta - ante — in the conclusion proktāni — said siddhaye — for the perfection sarva — of all karmaṇām — activities .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pañcaitāni mahā-bāho
pañca
five
etāni
these
mahā - bāho
O mighty-armed one
kāraṇāni nibodha me
kāraṇāni
causes
nibodha
just understand
me
from Me
sāṅkhye kṛtānte proktāni
sāṅkhye
in the Vedānta
kṛta - ante
in the conclusion
proktāni
said
siddhaye sarva-karmaṇām
siddhaye
for the perfection
sarva
of all
karmaṇām
activities .
Important Words
  • pañca — five
    The number is doctrinal. Sāṅkhya/Vedānta enumerates exactly five factors in every action. Kṛṣṇa is about to use this enumeration to dismantle the illusion of sole doership.
  • kāraṇāni — causes
    Plural — the verse insists on plurality. Every act has *causes*, not a cause. False ego collapses many into one and calls itself the agent.
  • sāṅkhye — in the Sāṅkhya / analytical tradition
    Locative. Kṛṣṇa invokes the conclusion of analytical knowledge — kṛta-anta means 'at the end of action,' i.e. the final settled view. He is citing authority, not opinion.
  • kṛta-ante — at the conclusion (of action)
    Literally 'end of the made.' The settled doctrinal close of the action-analysis. This is where Sāṅkhya's working out terminates — five and no fewer.
  • siddhaye — for the accomplishment
    Dative. Five factors are required *for any action to be accomplished*. Their cooperation, not any single one, is what produces a deed.
O mighty-armed Arjuna, according to the Vedānta there are five causes for the accomplishment of all action. Now learn of these from Me.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Kṛṣṇa now opens the analytical core of the chapter: there are five factors behind every action. He cites the authority of Sāṅkhya (here meaning the analytical wisdom-tradition that concludes action) to underwrite the list.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
'Kṛtānta' is read either as 'where action terminates' (Vedānta, the wisdom that ends karma) or as the established conclusion of Sāṅkhya. Either way, an authoritative pedigree is invoked. The list arrives next (v. 14) and underwrites the doctrine that pure ego-doership is impossible: action is always a five-factor ensemble in which the kartṛ is but one node.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
हे महा-बाहो! सर्व-कर्मणां सिद्धये कृत-अन्ते साङ्ख्ये प्रोक्तानि एतानि पञ्च कारणानि मे निबोध ।
he mahā-bāho! sarva-karmaṇāṃ siddhaye kṛta-ante sāṅkhye proktāni etāni pañca kāraṇāni me nibodha |
O mighty-armed one, learn from Me these five causes for the accomplishment of all actions, declared in Sāṅkhya, where action is brought to an end.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
पञ्च एतानि महा-बाहो कारणानि निबोध मे । साङ्ख्ये कृत-अन्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्व-कर्मणाम् ॥
pañca etāni mahā-bāho kāraṇāni nibodha me | sāṅkhye kṛta-ante proktāni siddhaye sarva-karmaṇām ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
पञ्च pañca num. acc.pl. (accusative plural)n. five
एतानि etāni एतद् (pron. (pronoun)) acc.pl. (accusative plural)n. these
महा-बाहो mahā-bāho bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) voc.sg. (vocative singular)m. O mighty-armed
कारणानि kāraṇāni कारण (n.) acc.pl. (accusative plural) causes
निबोध nibodha नि + √बुध् impv. 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) learn!
मे me अस्मद् (pron. (pronoun)) gen.sg. (genitive singular) from Me
साङ्ख्ये sāṅkhye साङ्ख्य (n.) loc.sg. (locative singular) in Sāṅkhya
कृत-अन्ते kṛta-ante tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) loc.sg. (locative singular)m. where action ends (Vedānta)
प्रोक्तानि proktāni प्र + √वच् p.p.p. (past passive participle) acc.pl. (accusative plural)n. declared
सिद्धये siddhaye सिद्धि (f.) dat.sg. (dative singular) for the accomplishment
सर्व-कर्मणाम् sarva-karmaṇām tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) gen.pl. (genitive plural)n. of all actions
Purport

A question may be raised that since any activity performed must have some reaction, how is it that the person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not suffer or enjoy the reactions of work? The Lord is citing Vedānta philosophy to show how this is possible. He says that there are five causes for all activities, and for success in all activity one should consider these five causes. Sāṅkhya means the stock of knowledge, and Vedānta is the final stock of knowledge accepted by all leading ācāryas. Even Śaṅkara accepts Vedānta-sūtra as such. Therefore such authority should be consulted. The ultimate control is invested in the Supersoul. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ. He is engaging everyone in certain activities by reminding him of his past actions. And Kṛṣṇa conscious acts done under His direction from within yield no reaction, either in this life or in the life after death.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
13. O Mighty-armed one, learn from Me the five factors necessary for completion of action, which are mentioned in the Vedānta, which speaks about the destruction of karma.
Commentary

“But how can doing action not give karmic results?” In order to establish that there is no contamination of karma when performing actions without false identification, the Lord speaks five verses. For the completion (siddhaye) of all actions, know these five factors from My words (me). Sāṅkhya means to speak (khyā) directly (samyak) about the Paramātmā. These five causes are mentioned in the Vedānta scriptures (sāṅkhye), whose purpose is to destroy karma (kṛtānte).

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
13. O Mighty-armed one, learn from Me the five factors necessary for completion of action, which are mentioned in the Vedānta, which gives the conclusion of the scriptures.
Commentary

“But why do those who perform actions (and renounce the results) not obtain results (which are binding to this world)?” “This happens because such a person renounces the concept of being the doer himself, and has the conviction that the Supreme Lord is the main doer.” Five verses explain this principle. Know (nibodha) from Me the five causes for the accomplishment (siddhaye) of all actions, O Mighty-armed one! The Lord then mentions the proof for this. This is described in that which produces knowledge—sāṅkhya—the Vedānta scripture (sāṇkhye). How is it described? It produces conclusions (kṛtānte). Vedānta concludes that paramātmā is the initiator of all other causes of action. He is known as antaryāmi- brahman, the brahman within. This has also been stated in the Gītā in verses such as sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi (BG 15.15), and will be stated later in other verses such as īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānām (BG 18.61)

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

Krsna's purpose in explaining the five cause will be known soon.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study Key verse
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: Five causes of action – To more precisely explain the consciousness of one not bound by

fruits of his action, Krishna refers to Vedanta Sutra.

Krishna describes five factors as the responsible causes for accomplishment of any kind of action (right or wrong)

Material Causes:

1. ‘Adhistaan’ – Place of action (Body)

2. ‘Karta’ – The doer (That is the consciousness reflected in false ego)

Refers to the soul because he is acting to bring about the results of his activity
Supporting Ref. For soul as the knower and doer
Prasna Upanishad
Vedanta Sutra

3. ‘Karana’– Senses (Instruments of action)

4. ‘Cesta’ – Endeavour (Effort, exerted by life airs to move the body)

Ultimate cause:

5. ‘Daivam’ – Super-cause (All our activities depend on the will of the Supersoul)

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
18.13 O mighty-armed one, nibodha, learn; me, from Me; imani, these; panca, five; karanani, factors, accessories, which are going to be stated-for drawing the attention of his (Arjuna's) mind and for showing the difference among these categories [Categories: locus (body) etc], the Lord praises those accessories in the succeeding verses as fit for being known-; siddhaye, for the accomplishment; sarva-karmanam, of all actions; proktani, which have been spoken of; sankhye, in Vedanta-sankhya is that scripture where the subject-matters [In the sentence, 'Thou art That', the word Thou means the individual Self, and That means Brahman. The comprehension of their unity, and also 'hearing, reflection and meditation' are referred to as the subject-matters.] to be known are fully (samyak) stated (khyayante)-; krtante, in which actions terminate. Krtante alifies that very word (Vedanta). Krtam mean action. That in which occurs the culmination (anta) of that krtam is krtantam, i.e. the termination of actions. In the texts, '৷৷.as much utility as a man has in a well' (2.46), and 'O son of Prtha, all actions in their totality culminate in Knowledge' (4.33), the Lord shows the cessation of all actions when the knowledge of the Self dawns. Hence (it is said): '৷৷.which have been spoken of in that Vedanta where actions culminate and which is meant for the knowledge of the Self.' Which are they? This is being answered:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
18.13 'Sankhya' means Buddhi (reasoning). 'Sankhya-krtanta' means that which is determined after due deliberations by the Buddhi in accordance with the Vedas on the nature of the things as they are. Learn them from Me. There are five causes for the accomplishment of all actions. But the understanding according to the Vedas (Vaidiki-buddhi) is that the Supreme Self alone is the agent working through body, senses, Pranas and the individual self, as asserted in the following Srutis: 'He who, dwelling in the self, who rules the self from within your self, the Inner Ruler, immortal' (Br. U. Madh., 3.7.22), and 'He who has penetrated the interior, is the Ruler of all creatures and the Self of all' (Tai. A., 3.11.3). Sri Krsna nows sets forth the five causes:
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
18.13 See Comment under 18.17
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
18.13 Learn from Me, O mighty-armed Arjuna, these five causes as declared in the Sankhya system for the accomplishment of all actions.
Commentary

18.13 पञ्च five? एतानि these? महाबाहो O mightyarmed? कारणानि causes? निबोध learn? मे from Me? सांख्ये in the Sankhya? कृतान्ते which is the end of all actions? प्रोक्तानि as declared? सिद्धये for the accomplishment? सर्वकर्मणाम् of all actions.Commentary The Self has no connection whatevr with activity. Nature does everything. The Self is the silent witness. He remains indifferent. The whole superstructure of human activity is the result of the five welldefined causes which are enumerated in the following verse.Etani These Which are going to be mentioned.Sankhya Vedanta Knowledge of the Self as taught in the Vedanta (the Upanishads) puts an end to all actions. This is the reason why the term Kritante (the end of actions) is used here. When the knowledge of the Self arises? all actions terminate. This is taught in chapter II? verse 46 To the Brahman who has known the Self al the Vedas are of so much use as is a reservoir of water in a place where there is a flood everywhere. Again? in verse 33 of chapter IV? it is said All actions in their entirety? O Arjuna? culminate in knowledge. Vedanta? therefore? which imparts knowledge of the Self? is the end of action. A liberated sage who has attained the knowledge of the Self in accordance with the instructions laid down in the Vedanta becomes a Kritakritya (one who has done everything and has nothing more to do).

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
18.13 O mighty-armed one, learned from Me these [Another reading is etani.-Tr.] five factors for the accomplishment of all actions, which have been spoken of in the Vedanta in which actions terminate.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
18.13 I will tell thee now, O Mighty Man, the five causes which, according to the final decision of philosophy, must concur before an action can be accomplished.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 3.27 BG 13.21 BG 15.15 SB 3.26.7 SB 6.1.11 SB 11.22.1 CC Madhya 20.264 CC Madhya 24.78 CC Madhya 25.33 Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.11Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.10
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Analogy

Five fingers grip a single tool. Remove any one and the grip loosens. The doer who claims sole credit is a single finger announcing it lifted the hammer — comic if it were not so common.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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