Verse 3.27
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः। अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते।।
Transliteration (IAST)
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ | ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate ||
Word-by-Word Meanings
प्रकृतेः-of material nature
गुणैः-by the gunas
कर्माणि-actions
अहङ्कार-ego
विमूढात्मा-deluded soul
कर्ता अहम्-I am the doer
Translation
All actions are performed by the gunas of material nature. But one whose mind is deluded by ego thinks, 'I am the doer.'
Commentary
This is a pivotal verse revealing the metaphysical truth of action. The three gunas of prakriti are the actual agents of all activity. The sense of personal doership is an illusion created by ahamkara (ego). Understanding this frees one from the bondage of karma while continuing to act.
Themes
karmaatmanyogajnana