ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ता च त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः ।
प्रोच्यते गुणसंख्याने यथावच्छृणु तान्यपि ॥
प्रोच्यते गुणसंख्याने यथावच्छृणु तान्यपि ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
गुणसंख्यान गुणोंके सम्बन्धसे प्रत्येक पदार्थके भिन्नभिन्न भेदोंकी गणना करनेवाले शास्त्रमें गुणोंके भेदसे ज्ञान और कर्म तथा कर्ता तीनतीन प्रकारसे ही कहे जाते हैं, उनको भी तुम यथार्थरूपसे सुनो ॥
English
In the analysis of the three qualities, knowledge, action, and the doer are each said to be threefold. Listen now to these distinctions as they truly are.
What this verse means
Knowledge, action, and the doer are each understood in three different ways according to the three qualities. Krishna asks Arjuna to listen carefully to this classification.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is still frozen while Krishna explains how action works beneath the surface. After saying that knowledge, action, and the doer can be divided in three ways, Krishna prepares Arjuna to hear how the qualities shape everything.
Why this verse still matters
You can do the same task with a clear mind, a restless mind, or a dull mind. The outer act looks identical, but the inner quality changes everything.
The takeaway
It reminds you that not all thinking, acting, or acting-from-self is the same.
Word-by-word translation
ज्ञानं (knowledge) / कर्म (action) / च (and) / कर्ता (doer) / च (and) / त्रिधा (threefold) / एव (indeed) / गुणभेदतः (according to the distinctions of the qualities) / प्रोच्यते (are said) / गुणसंख्याने (in the analysis of the qualities) / यथावत् (as they truly are) / शृणु (listen) / तानि (those) / अपि (also)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18: Moksha Sanyasa Yoga — Liberation through Renunciation, which contains 78 verses.
Explore related themes: gunas (47 verses), jnana (24 verses), karma (11 verses)