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Chapter 18 · Verse 16 · Moksha Sanyaas Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 18.16

philosophical Karma & Action Jnana & Wisdom Self & Identity

Sanskrit

तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः।पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न स पश्यति दुर्मतिः।।18.16।।

Transliteration

tatraivaṁ sati kartāram ātmānaṁ kevalaṁ tu yaḥ paśhyaty akṛita-buddhitvān na sa paśhyati durmatiḥ

Word by Word

tatra there
evam sati in spite of this
kartāram the doer
ātmānam the soul
kevalam only
tu but
yaḥ who
paśhyati see
akṛita-buddhitvāt with impure intellect
na not
saḥ they
paśhyati see
durmatiḥ foolish
Simplified Perspective

Even as the Self remains eternally the witness—untouched by action, unbound by consequence—the foolish soul claims ownership of what the body does, enslaving itself in false doership. This delusion of 'I am the actor' is the very poison that binds us to karma's wheel; only when the mirror of intellect becomes pure does the soul recognize its eternal freedom.

—and feel the burden of false responsibility dissolve.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 18.16 — BG 18.16

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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