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← Chapter 5: The Yoga of Renunciation of Action

Verse 5.14

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

न कर्तृत्वं न कर्माणि लोकस्य सृजति प्रभुः। न कर्मफलसंयोगं स्वभावस्तु प्रवर्तते।।

Transliteration (IAST)

na kartṛtvaṁ na karmāṇi lokasya sṛjati prabhuḥ। na karma-phala-saṁyogaṁ svabhāvas tu pravartate।।

Word-by-Word Meanings

कर्तृत्वम्-agency/doership
कर्माणि-actions
लोकस्य-of the world
प्रभुः-the Lord
कर्मफलसंयोगम्-connection with results of action
स्वभावः-one's own nature

Translation

The Lord creates neither the agency nor the actions of the world, nor the connection between action and its fruit. It is nature (svabhāva) that operates.

Commentary

This profound verse declares that the Supreme Self does not create doership, actions, or their consequences. All activity arises from prakṛti (nature) and its guṇas. The Self remains ever uninvolved. Understanding this removes the false identification with doership that causes bondage.

Themes

atmankarmajnana