Bhagavad Gita 3.27

Chapter 3, Verse 27

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः। अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताऽहमिति मन्यते॥

Transliteration

prakṛiteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśhaḥ ahankāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate

Meaning

All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks, "I am the doer."

Word-by-word meaning

prakṛiteḥ — of material naturekriyamāṇāni — carried outguṇaiḥ — by the three modeskarmāṇi — activitiessarvaśhaḥ — all kinds ofahankāra-vimūḍha-ātmā — those who are bewildered by the ego and misidentify themselves with the bodykartā — the doeraham — Iiti — thusmanyate — thinks

Commentary

Prakriti or Pradhana or Nature is that state in which the three Gunas, viz.? Sattva? Rajas and Tamas exist in a state of eilibrium. When this eilibrium is disturbed, creation begins body, senses, mind, etc., are formed. The man who is deluded by egoism identifies the Self with the body, mind, the life force and the senses and ascribes to the Self all the attributes of the body and the senses. He, therefore, thinks through ignorance? I am the doer. In reality the Gunas of Nature perform all actions. (Cf. III.29V.9IX.9?10XIII.21?24?30?32XVIII.13?14).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 27?▼

All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks, "I am the doer."

Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?▼

This is verse 27 of Chapter 3 (Karm Yog — Path of Selfless Service) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.