Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionKrishna
Verse 27
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 27
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।
अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते॥२७॥
Transliteration
Prakriteh Kriyamanani Gunaih Karmani Sarvashah.
Ahankara-Vimudha-Atma Karta-Aham-Iti Manyate.||27||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
प्रकृतेःprakritehof Prakriti (nature)
क्रियमाणानिkriyamananibeing performed
गुणैःgunaihby the gunas (qualities)
कर्माणिkarmaniactions
सर्वशःsarvashahin every way
अहङ्कारahankaraego
विमूढात्माvimudha-atmaone deluded in self
कर्ताkartathe doer
अहम्ahamI
इतिitithus
मन्यतेmanyatethinks
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
वास्तव में सम्पूर्ण कर्म प्रकृति के गुणों द्वारा किए जाते हैं। परन्तु अहंकार से मोहित हुआ मनुष्य 'मैं कर्ता हूँ' ऐसा मान लेता है।
English Translation
All actions are in reality performed by the gunas (qualities) of Prakriti (material nature). But one whose self is deluded by ego thinks, 'I am the doer.'
Commentary (टीका)
This is a foundational verse of Vedantic philosophy. The true Self (Atman) is actionless — it is the witness. All activity happens through the interplay of the three gunas in Prakriti. The sense of being the doer arises from ego (ahankara), which falsely identifies the Self with the body-mind complex. Liberation comes from seeing through this illusion.