Bhagavad Gita BG 18.18
Chapter 18, Verse 18 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना । करणं कर्म कर्तेति त्रिविधः कर्मसंग्रहः ॥
jnanam jneyam parijnata tri-vidha karma-codana karanam karma karta iti tri-vidhah karma-sangrahah
Meaning
Knowledge, the object of knowledge and the knower: this is the threefold impulse to action. The instrument, the action and the doer: this is the threefold basis of action.
Understanding
Before classifying knowledge, action and doer by the gunas, Krishna gives two triads. What moves a person to act: knowledge, the thing known and the knower (karma-codana). What an action is made of: the instrument, the act itself and the doer (karma-sangraha). The gunas are applied to these in 18.19 onward.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ज्ञानम् | jnanam | knowledge |
| ज्ञेयम् | jneyam | the object of knowledge |
| परिज्ञाता | parijnata | the knower |
| त्रिविधा | tri-vidha | threefold |
| कर्मचोदना | karma-codana | impulse to action |
| करणम् | karanam | the instrument |
| कर्म | karma | the action |
| कर्ता | karta | the doer |
| इति | iti | thus |
| त्रिविधः | tri-vidhah | threefold |
| कर्मसंग्रहः | karma-sangrahah | the constituents of action |
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