Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 18.16 तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः
श्लोक 18.16
तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः ।
पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न स पश्यति दुर्मतिः ॥
tatraivaṃ sati kartāramātmānaṃ kevalaṃ tu yaḥ |
paśyatyakṛtabuddhitvānna sa paśyati durmatiḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
ऐसा होने पर भी जो अपनी अपरिपक्व बुद्धि के कारण केवल आत्मा को ही कर्ता मानता है, वह दुर्बुद्धि वास्तव में ठीक नहीं देखता।
Meaning in English
This being so, one who, because of an untrained understanding, sees the self alone as the doer does not truly see; such a person's understanding is faulty.
Bhagavad Gita 18.16 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| तत्र | tatra | there |
| एवम् | evam | thus |
| सति | sati | being so |
| कर्तारम् | kartāram | as the doer |
| आत्मानम् | ātmānam | the self |
| केवलम् | kevalam | alone |
| तु | tu | but |
| यः | yaḥ | who |
| पश्यति | paśyati | sees |
| अकृतबुद्धित्वात् | akṛta-buddhitvāt | from untrained understanding |
| न | na | not |
| सः | saḥ | he |
| पश्यति | paśyati | sees |
| दुर्मतिः | durmatiḥ | of poor understanding |
Explanation
Since this is so, whoever regards the self alone as the doer, because his understanding is untrained, does not really see. He is of poor judgement. To think I alone did this is to miss the many causes at work.
Shankara reads the verse strongly: the true Self is never a doer at all, and anyone who attributes action to it is deluded. Ramanuja softens it: the individual self does act, but to think it acts alone, apart from the Lord and the other causes, is the error. Either way, the verse is aimed at the ego's sense of total ownership, which breeds both pride and anxiety. It prepares directly for 18.17.
भावार्थ
ऐसा होने पर भी जो अशुद्ध बुद्धि के कारण केवल आत्मा को ही कर्ता मानता है, वह दुर्बुद्धि यथार्थ को नहीं देखता।
Living it today
When things go well or badly, resist the story that it was all you. It rarely is.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 18.16?
Since this is so, whoever regards the self alone as the doer, because his understanding is untrained, does not really see. He is of poor judgement. To think I alone did this is to miss the many causes at work.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.16?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 18.16 in daily life?
When things go well or badly, resist the story that it was all you. It rarely is.
Reflected on verse 18.16?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.