HomeBhagavad GitaCh. 18Shloka 13
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Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Shloka 13

Moksha Sannyasa Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 13 illustration

पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे । सांख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम् ॥ १८.१३ ॥

pañcaitāni mahā-bāho kāraṇāni nibodha me | sāṅkhye kṛtānte proktāni siddhaye sarva-karmaṇām || 18.13 ||

Wahai Mahābāhu! Ketahuilah daripada-Ku lima sebab ini, yang dinyatakan dalam ajaran Sāṅkhya (pembezaan dengan kebijaksanaan) demi kesempurnaan semua perbuatan.

हे महाबाहो! मुझसे इन पाँच कारणों को जानो, जो सांख्य (विवेक) के सिद्धान्त में समस्त कर्मों की सिद्धि के लिए कहे गए हैं।

Learn from me, O mighty-armed, these five causes, declared in the Sāṅkhya teaching as the settled conclusion, for the accomplishment of all actions.

‘Sāṅkhye kṛtānte’ is often taken traditionally as ‘in the Sāṅkhya doctrine (as a definitive conclusion).’ Academic translations preserve the sense of a doctrinal framework rather than later classical Sāṅkhya systematization.

पञ्चfive
पञ्च:
Karma
Rootपञ्चन्
एतानिthese
एतानि:
Karma
Rootएतद्
महाबाहोO mighty-armed (Arjuna)
महाबाहो:
Rootमहाबाहु
कारणानिcauses, factors
कारणानि:
Karma
Rootकारण
निबोधknow, understand (clearly)
निबोध:
Root√बुध्
मेof me / my
मे:
Rootअस्मद्
सांख्येin Sāṅkhya (the analytical teaching)
सांख्ये:
Adhikarana
Rootसांख्य
कृतान्तेin the doctrine of kṛtānta (settled conclusion / siddhānta)
कृतान्ते:
Adhikarana
Rootकृतान्त
प्रोक्तानिhave been declared, stated
प्रोक्तानि:
Root√वच् (क्त-प्रत्ययः)
सिद्धयेfor the accomplishment, for success
सिद्धये:
Sampradana
Rootसिद्धि
सर्वकर्मणाम्of all actions
सर्वकर्मणाम्:
Rootसर्वकर्मन्
KrishnaArjuna
Causality (kāraṇa)Sāṅkhya-style analysisKarma theoryAgency critique
Deconstruction of sole doershipAnalytic enumerationConditions of action

FAQs

By listing multiple causes, the text reduces simplistic self-blame or self-glorification, encouraging a more realistic view of how actions arise from many factors.

The verse introduces a structured account of action’s conditions, aligning with Indian analytic traditions that explain agency through interacting principles rather than a single absolute agent.

It transitions from renunciation of fruits (18.11–12) to an analysis of action and responsibility (18.13–17), setting up the critique of egoic doership.

In evaluating success or failure, consider systems and conditions (resources, tools, context, chance) alongside personal effort, fostering humility and better decision-making.