FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 18.16

తత్రైవం సతి కర్తారమాత్మానం కేవలం తు య: । పశ్యత్యకృతబుద్ధిత్వాన్న స పశ్యతి దుర్మతి: ॥ ౧౬ ॥
tatraivaṁ sati kartāram
[tatraivam sati kartaaram]
ātmānaṁ kevalaṁ tu yaḥ
[aatmaanam kevalam tu yah]
paśyaty akṛta-buddhitvān
[pashyaty akrita-buddhitvaan]
na sa paśyati durmatiḥ
[na sa pashyati durmatih]
tatra — there evam — thus sati — being kartāram — the worker ātmānam — himself kevalam — only tu — but yaḥ — anyone who paśyati — sees akṛta - buddhitvāt — due to unintelligence na — never saḥ — he paśyati — sees durmatiḥ — foolish .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tatraivaṁ sati kartāram
tatra
there
ātmānaṁ kevalaṁ tu yaḥ
evam
thus
paśyaty akṛta-buddhitvān
na sa paśyati durmatiḥ
sati
being
kartāram
the worker
ātmānam
himself
kevalam
only
tu
but
yaḥ
anyone who
paśyati
sees
akṛta - buddhitvāt
due to unintelligence
na
never
saḥ
he
paśyati
sees
durmatiḥ
foolish .
  • kartāram — the worker, doer
    The verse's exact target. The soul *is* a kartā (one of five), but the false-doer takes himself as the sole kartā. Same word that was listed as one of the five in verse 14 — but here misappropriated to one alone.
  • ātmānam — himself
    Accusative reflexive. The false-doer sees *himself* as the sole kartā. The grammar pinpoints the misidentification — self collapsed into solo agent.
  • kevalam — only, sole
    Adverb of exclusivity. *Only* — the falsehood lives here. The soul is *a* doer, not the *only* doer. One word that distinguishes truth from error.
  • durmatiḥ — the misguided one
    Strong word — 'bad-minded.' Such a person is not merely ignorant but actively miscalibrated, seeing as solo what is fivefold. The diagnosis is sharp.
  • paśyati — sees
    Verb. The verse plays on this — *he sees but does not see*. He sees only one cause; the reality of five remains invisible. Same verb, opposite contents.
Therefore one who thinks himself the only doer, not considering the five factors, is certainly not very intelligent and cannot see things as they are.

A foolish person cannot understand that the Supersoul is sitting as a friend within and conducting his actions. Although the material causes are the place, the worker, the endeavor and the senses, the final cause is the Supreme, the Personality of Godhead. Therefore, one should see not only the four material causes but the supreme efficient cause as well. One who does not see the Supreme thinks himself to be the doer.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
16. Though these five are the causes of action, the unintelligent fool who sees only himself as the doer does not see.
Commentary

Then what happens? Though these five are causes of action (tatra evam), one who sees only that the self, the jīva, is the doer, though actually the jīva is not associated with action at all, does not see, being a fool (durmatiḥ), because of impure intelligence (akṛta-buddhitvāt). One may say that such a foolish person is blind.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
16. Though these five are the causes of action, the unintelligent fool, who, because of not attaining that knowledge, sees only himself as the doer, does not see.
Commentary

Then what happens? Though the jīva’s acting as doer takes place only with permission of the Lord, and depends upon the body and senses given by the Lord (evam), he who sees only the jīva as the doer in his action (tatra), called a fool, (durmatiḥ) because of lack of that knowledge, does not see. He is like a blind man.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

Krsna says that this consciousness of 'kartaham', 'I am the doer', is of a 'mudhah', a person bewildered by that false ego reflecting within his materialistic heart. Thinking 'I am the doer' means thinking that ' I am the only doer', and this, specifically, exactly what binds one in the material world, binds one to the fruits of one's actions (either good, bad or mixed). This consciousness that 'I am the One', (we already have heard that in Chapter Sixteen) 'isvaro 'ham aham bhogi/ siddho 'ham balavan sukhi', 'I am the enjoyer, I am the controller, I am perfect, I am powerful, I am happy...', ‑ this is just the definition of illusion. It stems from ignorance of who real are. And here we are, so tiny, so insignificant... Even the bug he is thinking that is the doer, the enjoyer... What can anyone in this world do actually? To explain to us from the point of view of Vedanta that we are not the big controllers, the big doers, Krsna says that there are five factors of action. Ultimately the real sanctioner, who no one can do anything without getting permission from, is the Supersoul, the Lord in the heart. One who thinks himself the only doer, who is not considering these five factors, he is certainly not intelligent, he is 'akr ta‑ buddhitvan' and he cannot see things as they are, in other words he is in illusion. This kind of person who thinks 'I am the doer', he is getting sinful reactions or pious reactions in everything that he does. But one who is , on the other hand, free from reactions, because Krsna is still making the point of how to become free from reaction,...

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

Non-intelligent seer defined

Does not consider the final doer, the Supreme Lord
It is not intelligent to consider oneself as independent doer of one’s actions

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SECTION II

Because the Supreme Lord is the ultimate cause, therefore one who is acting in Krishna consciousness

under the direction of Supersoul within the heart is:

Naturally not bound by any activity
Those in complete Krishna consciousness are not ultimately responsible for their actions
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
18.16 Tatra is used for connecting with the topic under discussion. Tatra evam sati, this being the case, when actions are thus accomplished by the five causes mentioned above;-this portion has to be connected with 'perverted intellect' by way of causality [Actions are done by the body etc., but since a person thinks that the Self is the agent, therefore he is said to have a perverted intellect.]-yah, tu, anyone, an unenlightened person, who; pasyati, perceives; kevalam, the absolute, pure; atmanam, Self; as the kartaram, agent-thinking, 'I myself am the agent of the actions being done by them', as a conseence of imagining the Self as identified with them; why?-akrta-buddhitvat, owing to the imperfection of his intellect, owing to his intellect not having been refined by the instructions of Vedanta and the teachers, and by reasoning-. Even the person who, believing in the Self as distinct from the body etc., looks upon the distinct [Ast. omits anyam (distinct).-Tr.], absolute Self as the agent, he, too, is surely of imperfect intellect. Hence, owing to his having an imperfect intellect, sah, that man; na, does not; pasyati, perceive (properly) either the truth about the Self or about actions. This is the meaning. Therefore he is a durmatih, man of perverted intellect, in the sense that his intellect is contemptible, perverse, corrupted, and the cause of repeatedly undergoing births and deaths. He does not perceive even while seeing-like the man suffering from Timira seeing many moons, or like one thinking the moon to be moving when (actually) the clouds are moving, or like the one seated on some conveyance (e.g. palanin), thinking oneself to be moving when others (the bearers) are moving. Who, again, is the man of right intellect who perceives correctly? This is being answered:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
18.16 In fact, the agency of the individual self is subject to the consent of Supreme Self; such being the case, if the 'individual self regards Itself as the agent,' It is of wicked or perverse mind. For, It does not perceive the agent as It really is, since It possesses an 'uncultivated understanding,' namely, an understanding which does not reveal the real state of affairs.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
18.16 See Comment under 18.17
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
18.16 Now, such being the case, verily he who owing to untrained understanding looks upon his Self, which is isolated, as the agent, he of perverted intelligence, sees not.
Commentary

18.16 तत्र there (the case)? एवम् thus? सति being? कर्तारम् as the agent? आत्मानम् the Self? केवलम् alone? तु verily? यः who? पश्यति sees? अकृतबुद्धित्वात् owing to untrained understanding? न not? सः he? पश्यति sees? दुर्मतिः of perverted intelligence.Commentary The Self is always actionless. He is unattached like ether. He is always the silent witness. He is the spectator of activity. The egoistic man of little understanding only thinks that he is the real agent? and so he is bound by actions. He takes birth again and again to reap the fruits of his actions. For him who considers the body as consciousness? God or the Self? it naturally follows that the Self is the agent or the doer. He who identifies himself with the body? who has taken the body as the pure Self? has cast a net over himself? and he leads a deluded life of utter ignorance. He is bound by the fetters or bonds of Karma. He is ever shut up in the prisonhouse of this body.He who has not united himself with the Buddhi? who has got an impure or untrained understanding? who regards the Self as the actor or the agent is certainly a man of perverted intelligence. He is deluded. He is really a blind man. He sees not though he has eyes. He does not behold the essence of things. He has no idea of the supreme Principle (the Self) Which is Itself actionless? Which ever stands as a silent witness of the activities of all minds and all organs of all beings? Which moves the minds? organs and the lifeforce and the bodies to action? just as the magnet makes the iron pieces move. He does not behold the truth about the Self and action.Durmati Evilminded person A man of perverted intellect or undeveloped reason. He thinks that he alone is the doer or agent. He does not understand anything. He has no knowledge of the,actionless? pure? selfluminous Self.The ignorant man of untrained understanding identifies himself with the five causes and regards the pure actionless Self as the agent or doer of the actions which are really done by these five causes. What is the reason for this Why does he regard them so Because he is not endowed with a pure and subtle intellect his understanding (Buddhi) has not been trained in the practice of Vedanta he is not eipped with the four means of salvation his intellect has not been trained by the teachings of the preceptor or the spiritual teacher in the methods of logical reasoning.He who considers that the pure actionless Self is the agent or the doer is certainly a man of untrained understanding. He has no knowledge of the actionless Self and action. Therefore? he is a man of perverted intelligence. His intellect works or moves in the wrong direction. His intellect moves in the sensual grooves or avenues. It runs like the vicious horse and leads to birth and death. The technie of Buddhi Yoga taught in the Gita enables one effectively to prevent this.He does not perceive or cognise the Truth though he has eyes. Though he sees? he sees the external? gross? illusory? everchanging? perishable objects only. He does not behold the one immortal? unchanging? allblissful essence? which is the basis or substratum of everything. He is like the man with jaundiced eyes? who sees all objects tinged with yellow colur? or like the man suffering from diplopia who beholds many moons? or like the man who thinks that the moon moves when the clouds move? or like the man who? seated in a train? imagines that the trees are moving when it is the train that is really moving. (Cf.V.15XIII.30)

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
18.16 This being the case, anyone, who, owing to the imperfection of his intellect, perceives the absolute Self as the agent, that man does not perceive (properly), and has a perverted intellect.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
18.16 But the fool who supposes, because of his immature judgment, that it is his own Self alone that acts, he perverts the truth and does not see rightly.
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
He who, due to undeveloped intelligence, sees only himself as the doer — does not see things rightly.
Practical Applications
  • Recognize that undeveloped intelligence is at the root of false-ego doership.
  • Cultivate the intelligence that sees the five causes.
  • Treat 'I am the doer' as a beginner's stage.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I at the beginner's stage of doership?
  • What ripens past it?

The lamp's flame insists, 'I light the room.' But pull away the oil, the wick, the still air, the matchstick, and the hand that lit it — and the flame vanishes. The doer who calls himself the only doer is precisely such a flame in love with its own brightness, blind to everything keeping it lit.

Yudhiṣṭhira's grief over the slain

After the Kurukṣetra war, Yudhiṣṭhira was wracked with the thought that he alone had killed his elders and kinsmen. Vyāsa, Bhīṣma, and Kṛṣṇa repeatedly applied this exact teaching: he had acted in the line of dharma, as one factor among five. The killing belonged to time and divine arrangement and the kṣatriya order as much as to him.

Until he understood that *kartāram ātmānam kevalam* was a false reading of his own role, his buddhi remained akṛta and his grief untreatable. The lesson finally settled, and he accepted the throne.

📝 My note

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