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Bhagavad Gita 18.14

Chapter 18, Verse 14

Part of 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yogमोक्षसंन्यासयोग

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

Transliteration

adhiṣhṭhānaṁ tathā kartā karaṇaṁ cha pṛithag-vidham vividhāśh cha pṛithak cheṣhṭā daivaṁ chaivātra pañchamam

Meaning

The body, the doer, the various senses, the different functions of various kinds, and the presiding deity—the fifth.

Word-by-word meaning
adhiṣhṭhānamthe bodytathāalsokartāthe doer (soul)karaṇamsenseschaandpṛithak-vidhamvarious kindsvividhāḥmanychaandpṛithakdistinctcheṣhṭāḥeffortsdaivamDivine Providencecha eva atrathese certainly are (causes)pañchamamthe fifth
Commentary

Now listen to the characteristics of these five, of which the body is the first. It is termed the support or the seat. The body is the seat of desire, hatred, happiness, misery, knowledge and the like. The individual soul experiences through the body the pleasure and pain that arise through contact with matter. Egoism is the agent or the doer or the enjoyer. Nature does actions but through delusion the individual soul takes to himself the credit of their execution and, therefore, he is called the agent. Karta The enjoyer putting on the nature or properties of the limiting adjuncts with which he comes into contact. Karanam prithagvidham Various organs such as the organ of hearing, by which the individual soul hears the sound, etc. organs of knowledge and action and the mind. Daivam The presiding deity such as the Sun and the other gods by whose help the eye and the other organs perform their respective functions destiny. Cheshta Play of energy in the organs or the senses during the action. Absence of any of these factors will make action impossible.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 14?
The body, the doer, the various senses, the different functions of various kinds, and the presiding deity—the fifth.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 14 of Chapter 18 (Mokṣha Sanyās Yog — Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.