Bhagavad Gita · Verse 18.16
Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (मोक्षसंन्यासयोगः)
(The Supreme Lord said)
तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः । पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न स पश्यति दुर्मतिः ॥१६॥
tatraivaṃ sati kartāramātmānaṃ kevalaṃ tu yaḥ | paśyatyakṛtabuddhitvānna sa paśyati durmatiḥ ||16||
Complete Shloka Translation
With this being so, one who sees the self alone as the agent, because of an untrained understanding, does not see rightly.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| आत्मा | ātmā | Self |
| कर्तृ | kartṛ | agent or doer |
| तत्रैवं | tatraivaṃ | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
| सति | sati | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
| कर्तारमात्मानं | kartāramātmānaṃ | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
| केवलं | kevalaṃ | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
| तु | tu | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
| यः | yaḥ | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
| पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न | paśyatyakṛtabuddhitvānna | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
| पश्यति | sa | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
| दुर्मतिः | paśyati | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
| १६ | durmatiḥ | [term] in context of With this being so, one who se... |
Self
agent or doer
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
[term] in context of With this being so, one who se...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
The criticism is of exclusive doership that ignores the preceding causes. Traditions explain the self's relation to agency differently.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Where do you mistake shared causes for personal control alone?"
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
Where do you mistake shared causes for personal control alone?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse to achieve purposeful living: execute your daily duties with full craftsmanship and honesty, release obsessive ego over results, and ground your spirit in timeless devotion, knowing that where righteous effort joins higher wisdom, victory is assured.