Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 14

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम् ।
विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम् ॥

Transliteration

adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā karaṇaṃ ca pṛthagvidham .
vividhāśca pṛthakceṣṭā daivaṃ caivātra pañcamam ॥

Meaning

The seat of action (the body), the doer, the various instruments, the many distinct activities, and the divine as the fifth — these are the five.

Word meanings

अधिष्ठानम् – the seat — the body
तथा – also
कर्ता – the doer — the ego-bound self
करणम् – the instruments — senses, mind and intellect
च – and
पृथग्विधम् – of various kinds
विविधाः – manifold
च – and
पृथक् – distinct
चेष्टाः – activities, functions of the vital forces
दैवम् – the divine — presiding deities, the Lord within, or destiny
च एव – and also
अत्र – here
पञ्चमम् – the fifth

Anvaya (word order)

अत्र अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता पृथग्विधं करणं च विविधाः पृथक् चेष्टाः च पञ्चमं दैवं च एव ।

Explanation

Krishna now names the five causes of action. The first is adhishthana, the seat in which action takes place — the body. Without a body no physical action is possible. The second is karta, the doer — the one who thinks 'I am acting'. This is the embodied self bound by ego, which forms the intention to act.

The third is prithag-vidham karanam, the instruments of various kinds: the organs of perception (eyes, ears and so on), the organs of action (hands, feet, speech and so on), and the inner instruments of mind and intellect. Each instrument has its own function. The fourth is vividhah prithak cheshtah, the many distinct activities, often understood as the functions of the five vital airs — prana, apana and the rest — which set body and senses in motion.

The fifth and most significant cause is daiva. The acharyas give it several meanings. For Shankara, daiva refers to the presiding deities of the senses — the sun for the eye, Indra for the hand. Ramanuja understands it as the indwelling Supreme Self, who dwells within all and makes action possible. Madhva likewise identifies daiva with Lord Vishnu, the impeller of all. Some also take it as destiny — the unseen factor that shapes outcomes despite our efforts.

The implication of this list is profound: the Self is none of these five. The Self is the witness in whose presence these five do their work. Action arises from the combination of these five; hence to regard any single one — and above all the pure Self — as the sole doer is ignorance.

Context

The previous verse introduced the five causes. This verse enumerates them. The next verse (18.15) explains that every action of body, speech and mind — right or wrong — arises from these five causes.

Life lesson

Behind every success lie the body, intellect, instruments, effort and divine grace together. Remembering this keeps ego in check and awakens gratitude. Since the outcome is not wholly in our hands, give your full effort and accept the result with grace.

Key terms

Adhishthana: The seat of action — the body
Karta: The doer — the ego-bound self that thinks 'I act'
Karana: The instruments — senses, mind and intellect
Cheshta: The various activities of the vital forces
Daiva: The divine factor — presiding deities, the Lord within, or destiny