Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 18.15 शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः
श्लोक 18.15
शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः ।
न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः ॥
śarīravāṅmanobhiryatkarma prārabhate naraḥ |
nyāyyaṃ vā viparītaṃ vā pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
मनुष्य शरीर, वाणी या मन से जो भी कर्म आरंभ करता है, चाहे वह उचित हो या अनुचित, उसके ये पाँच ही कारण होते हैं।
Meaning in English
Whatever action a person undertakes with body, speech or mind, whether right or wrong, these five are its causes.
Bhagavad Gita 18.15 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| शरीरवाङ्मनोभिः | śarīra-vāṅ-manobhiḥ | with body, speech and mind |
| यत् | yat | whatever |
| कर्म | karma | action |
| प्रारभते | prārabhate | undertakes |
| नरः | naraḥ | a person |
| न्याय्यम् | nyāyyam | right, proper |
| वा | vā | or |
| विपरीतम् | viparītam | the opposite |
| वा | vā | or |
| पञ्च | pañca | five |
| एते | ete | these |
| तस्य | tasya | its |
| हेतवः | hetavaḥ | causes |
Explanation
Whatever action a person begins with body, speech or mind, whether right or wrong, these five are its causes. The analysis applies equally to good deeds and bad ones; every act, of whatever kind, arises from the same five factors.
By naming body, speech and mind, the verse covers the whole range of human action, a division common in Indian ethics. Shankara stresses that this makes clear the Self is not among the causes, since it is pure witness. Ramanuja holds that the individual self is a real agent but always dependent on the Lord, who is the fifth cause. The point in both readings is to dissolve the illusion of isolated, self-sufficient authorship.
भावार्थ
मनुष्य शरीर, वाणी और मन से जो भी उचित या अनुचित कर्म आरम्भ करता है, उसके ये पाँच कारण होते हैं।
Living it today
Watch what you do in thought and speech as well as in deed. All three are real actions with real effects.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 18.15?
Whatever action a person begins with body, speech or mind, whether right or wrong, these five are its causes. The analysis applies equally to good deeds and bad ones; every act, of whatever kind, arises from the same five factors.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.15?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 18.15 in daily life?
Watch what you do in thought and speech as well as in deed. All three are real actions with real effects.
Reflected on verse 18.15?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.