Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Shloka 14

Moksha Sannyasa Yoga

Devanagari script

अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम् । विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम् ॥ १८.१४ ॥

Transliteration

adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā karaṇaṃ ca pṛthag-vidham | vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā daivaṃ caivātra pañcamam || 18.14 ||

Translation

অধিষ্ঠান (শৰীৰ), কৰ্তা, পৃথক্‌পৃথক্‌ প্ৰকাৰৰ কৰণ (ইন্দ্ৰিয়সমূহ), নানাবিধ আৰু পৃথক্‌ চেষ্টাসমূহ, আৰু দেৱ (ভাগ্য/ঈশ্বৰীয় বিধান)—ইয়াত এই পাঁচটাই কৰ্মৰ কাৰণ।

Gita Press Meaning

अधिष्ठान (शरीर), कर्ता, भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकार के करण (इन्द्रियाँ), विविध और पृथक् चेष्टाएँ तथा दैव—ये पाँचवाँ कारण भी यहाँ है।

Critical Edition Meaning

The basis (locus), the agent, the instruments of various kinds, the many distinct activities, and—fifth—daiva (the ‘given’/providential factor): these are (the five causes).

Comparative Note

Traditional commentaries often identify adhiṣṭhāna with the body and ‘daiva’ with divine ordinance or unseen fate; academic renderings may gloss ‘daiva’ more neutrally as contingency or the non-human factor in causation.

Word by Word

• अधिष्ठानम्: the basis, the locus (substratum)
• अधिष्ठानम्: Karta
• Root: अधिष्ठान

• तथा: and also, likewise
• Root: तथा

• कर्ता: the doer (agent)
• कर्ता: Karta
• Root: कर्तृ

• करणम्: the instrument (means)
• करणम्: Karana
• Root: करण

• च: and
• Root: च

• पृथक्: separately, distinct
• Root: पृथक्

• विधम्: of a kind; type; manner
• Root: विध

• विविधाः: various, manifold
• Root: विविध

• च: and
• Root: च

• पृथक्: separately, distinct
• Root: पृथक्

• चेष्टाः: activities, efforts, movements
• Root: चेष्टा

• दैवम्: the divine factor; destiny; providence
• Root: दैव

• च: and
• Root: च

• एव: indeed, just, certainly
• Root: एव

• अत्र: here (in this context)
• Root: अत्र

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth
• Root: पञ्चम

Speakers

• Krishna
• Arjuna

Primary Concepts

• Agency (kartṛtva)
• Instrumentality (karaṇa)
• Embodiment (adhiṣṭhāna)
• Daiva (contingency/providence)

Key Themes

• Multi-factor causation
• Limits of control
• Responsibility without egoism

FAQs

Psychological significance?

Recognizing multiple contributing factors helps reduce inflated ego and catastrophic guilt, supporting steadier motivation and resilience.

Metaphysical meaning?

Action is presented as emergent from a nexus of locus, agent, instruments, efforts, and an additional ‘given’ factor—undercutting the idea of an isolated, independent doer.

Contextual relevance?

This enumerates the five causes announced in 18.13 and prepares the critique of those who attribute action to the self alone (18.16).

Modern Application?

In planning projects, distinguish controllables (effort, tools) from uncontrollables (external events), and design with both in mind.