Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 13 · Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 13.21 कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते
श्लोक 13.21
कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते ।
पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते ॥
kāryakāraṇakartṛtve hetuḥ prakṛtirucyate |
puruṣaḥ sukhaduḥkhānāṃ bhoktṛtve heturucyate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
शरीर, इंद्रियों और उनकी क्रियाओं के होने में प्रकृति को कारण कहा जाता है, और सुख-दुःख के भोगने में पुरुष को कारण कहा जाता है।
Meaning in English
Prakriti is said to be the cause of the body, the senses and their activity, while Purusha is said to be the cause of experiencing pleasure and pain.
Bhagavad Gita 13.21 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे | kārya-kāraṇa-kartṛtve | in producing effects and instruments |
| हेतुः | hetuḥ | the cause |
| प्रकृतिः | prakṛtiḥ | nature |
| उच्यते | ucyate | is said to be |
| पुरुषः | puruṣaḥ | the spirit |
| सुखदुःखानाम् | sukha-duḥkhānām | of pleasures and pains |
| भोक्तृत्वे | bhoktṛtve | in experiencing |
| हेतुः | hetuḥ | the cause |
| उच्यते | ucyate | is said to be |
Explanation
Nature is said to be the cause of all doing, of the body and its instruments. Spirit is said to be the cause of the experience of pleasure and pain. Nature does the acting; spirit experiences the results. This division sets up the later point that the self does not act.
Many editions read karya-karana, the body (karya) and the organs (karana); this site's text has karana, cause, giving the sense of effects and their causes. Either way, the division is clear: nature does, spirit experiences. Shankara notes that experience is attributed to purusha only because of its association with nature, not because it truly changes. The verse lays the base for the later teaching that the self is not the doer.
भावार्थ
कार्य और करण (शरीर और इन्द्रियों) को उत्पन्न करने में प्रकृति को कारण कहा जाता है, और सुख-दुःख के भोगने में पुरुष को कारण कहा जाता है। प्रकृति कर्म करती है, पुरुष अनुभव करता है।
Living it today
Notice how much of your day runs on its own: breathing, digesting, reacting. Seeing nature at work can soften pride and blame.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 13.21?
Nature is said to be the cause of all doing, of the body and its instruments. Spirit is said to be the cause of the experience of pleasure and pain. Nature does the acting; spirit experiences the results. This division sets up the later point that the self does not act.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 13.21?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 13 (Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 13.21 in daily life?
Notice how much of your day runs on its own: breathing, digesting, reacting. Seeing nature at work can soften pride and blame.
Reflected on verse 13.21?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.