Chapter 18, Verse 18 (Bhagavad Gita 18.18)
Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yog – Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Sanskrit Shloka
ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना।करणं कर्म कर्तेति त्रिविधः कर्मसंग्रहः
Transliteration
jñānaṁ jñeyaṁ parijñātā tri-vidhā karma-chodanā karaṇaṁ karma karteti tri-vidhaḥ karma-saṅgrahaḥ
Word Meanings
jñānam—knowledge; jñeyam—the object of knowledge; parijñātā—the knower; tri-vidhā—three factors; karma-chodanā—factors that induce action; karaṇam—the instrumens of action; karma—the act; kartā—the doer; iti—thus; tri-vidhaḥ—threefold; karma-saṅgrahaḥ—constituents of action
Translation
Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower constitute the threefold impulse to action; the senses, the action, and the doer constitute the threefold basis of action.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals the structural anatomy of all human endeavor. He explains that before an action manifests, it is ignited by the intention arising from the triad of the knower, the knowledge, and the object of that knowledge. Then, this impulse is grounded in the physical and mental execution involving the senses, the action itself, and the individual doer. By deconstructing these layers, Shri Krishna guides Arjuna—and every seeker—to look beyond the surface of life into the mechanics of karma. Ultimately, the Supreme Lord invites us to surrender these impulses to Him, ensuring that our actions become an offering rather than a chain that binds us to the cycle of samsara.