Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 14

English Translation

The locus as also the agent, the different kinds of organs, the many and distinct activities, and, the divine is here the fifth.

Detailed Commentary

Explanation of 18.14: Adhishthanam (The Basis) -- The body itself and the place where the body is situated, both constitute the Adhishthanam. Karta (The Agent) -- All actions are performed by Prakriti (Nature) and its modifications. Whether these actions are collective or individual, their true agent is not the self. Only a person deluded by ego (ahankara), who lacks discernment between the conscious (chetana) and the inert (jada), attributes the actions originating from Prakriti to themselves and thus becomes the Karta. Such an agent becomes a cause in the accomplishment of actions (karmas). Karanam Cha Prithagvidham (The Various Instruments) -- There are a total of thirteen Karanas (instruments). Five Karmendriyas (organs of action): hands, feet, speech, genitals (upastha), and anus (payu). Five Gyanendriyas (organs of perception): ears, eyes, skin, tongue, and nose. These ten are the external Karanas. Mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), and ego (ahankara) – these are the three internal Karanas. Vividhashcha Prithak Cheshtah (The Diverse and Separate Endeavors) -- The aforementioned thirteen Karanas have distinct endeavors (cheshtas), such as: giving and taking things with the hands; coming and going with the feet; speaking with the voice; urinating with the upastha; defecating with the payu; hearing with the ears; seeing with the eyes; touching with the skin; tasting with the tongue; smelling with the nose; contemplating with the mind (manas); deciding with the intellect (buddhi); and asserting one's self (ego) with ahankara. Daivam Chaivatra Panchamam (And Providence, the Fifth) -- The fifth cause in the accomplishment of actions (karmas) is called Daivam (Divine Factor/Providence). Daivam here refers to Samskaras (latent impressions). Whatever action a person performs, a corresponding impression (samskara) is formed on their inner consciousness (antahkarana). A virtuous action creates a virtuous samskara, and an unvirtuous action creates an unvirtuous samskara, which then provides the impetus for future actions. A person will easily engage in an action for which they have a samskara, whereas they will find it difficult to perform an action for which they have no particular samskara. What a person hears, reads, and contemplates, all this happens in accordance with their samskaras. Thus, the inclinations to perform actions arise in a person's inner consciousness according to their samskaras. In this verse, the five causes for the accomplishment of actions (karmas) are described as Adhishthanam, Karta, Karanam, Cheshta, and Daivam. No action can occur without a basis, hence the existence of Adhishthanam. Without an agent (Karta), there will be no action, hence the necessity of a Karta. Instruments (Karanas) are essential for action, hence their importance. Even with instruments, if there is no endeavor (cheshta), actions will not be accomplished, hence endeavor is necessary. The agent (Karta) will act only according to their samskaras, hence the significance of Daivam. Only with the presence of these five does the accomplishment of any action occur.