A core teaching · reflective in mood · a little context helps
“Action has many causes, and no one factor owns the result.”
The field, the doer, the instruments, the many efforts, and the fifth factor, the unseen force, all shape every action.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallythe basis · and · the doer · the instruments · and · of many kinds · varied · and · separate · efforts · the unseen force · and · indeed · here · the fifth
Every action depends on several causes: the base, the doer, the tools, the different efforts, and a fifth factor beyond human control.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Moksha Sanyasa Yoga" (Liberation through Renunciation).
Verse 14 sits in Chapter 18 of the Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga, "Liberation through Renunciation". The chapter has 78 verses in total.
A family sits in a hospital corridor after a surgery went wrong, asking whose fault it was. Krishna's list widens the question: the body, the surgeon, the tools, the many efforts, and daiva, the factor nobody controls.
Did you like this verse?
Krishna names the five: the seat of action, the doer, the instruments, the various efforts, and daiva.
What this verse means
Every action depends on several causes: the base, the doer, the tools, the different efforts, and a fifth factor beyond human control.
Context & commentary
Krishna now breaks action into its causes: the base, the agent, the instruments, the separate efforts, and a fifth factor beyond them. He is showing why no one acts alone.
What it looks like today
A family sits in a hospital corridor after a surgery went wrong, asking whose fault it was. Krishna's list widens the question: the body, the surgeon, the tools, the many efforts, and daiva, the factor nobody controls.
“It softens blame and pride. Not everything that happens can be reduced to one person’s will.”
Explore related themes: karma (11 verses)