Verse 18.15
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः | न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः ||१५||
Transliteration (IAST)
śarīra-vāṅ-manobhir yat karma prārabhate naraḥ | nyāyyaṁ vā viparītaṁ vā pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ ||15||
Word-by-Word Meanings
śarīra-body
vāk-speech
manobhiḥ-by the mind
karma-action
prārabhate-undertakes
nyāyyam-right/proper
viparītam-wrong/contrary
pañca ete-these five
hetavaḥ-causes
Translation
Whatever action a person performs by body, speech, or mind - whether right or wrong - these five are its causes.
Commentary
Krishna extends the five-factor analysis to all actions regardless of their moral quality. Shankaracharya emphasizes that even sinful actions require the same five factors, proving that the self alone cannot be the sole cause. Ramanuja notes that this verse covers the three instruments of action (body, speech, mind) and applies universally to righteous and unrighteous deeds alike.
Themes
jnanakarma
Related Verses
jnana1 verse