Verse-19
Chapter 18 — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
Verse 19
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
jñānaṁ karma ch kartā ch tridhaiva guṇabhedataḥ
procyate guṇasaṁkhyāne yathāvacchrṇu tānyapi
🕉 English Translation
Gyan aur karma, karta in teeno ke,
Hain teen prakar guna bhed se.
Kahe Sankhya ke shastra mein jo,
Bhali bhanti sunn mujhse in teeno ko.
📜 Translation
English
The scriptures which analyse the attributes have declared knowledge, action and doer to be of three kinds in accordance with the attributes; these too you hear from Me duly.
In the previous verse the Blessed Lord has described three motivators of action and also three factors for the accomplishment of work. Here out of those six, three main ones are being narrated by the singer of the Gita. That action should be completed in a proper manner for this purpose; this knowledge is immensely necessary. What action I am going to engage in and for what purpose. Without this reflection action can become the reason for pushing one into an abyss of ignorance. The expression of the object to be known also comes in its ambit, though the Krishna of the Gita will be describing with great awareness the three types of pleasures through the expression of the object of knowledge. Similarly, the knower and doer is the same. Here too the principle factor is the doer as the main issue relates to action. That is why in comparison to the knower and instrument, the doer and action has been given preference. Otherwise too in the form of instruments later on, the three kinds of intelligence and fortitude have been elaborated.
Satvic, rajas, tamas-to associate these three attributes with every aspect and expression of life is itself an original and magnificent feature of Shri Gitaji. From this a clear inspiration can be derived as to what is to be accepted or acquired and what is to be set aside? What is beneficial and what is not beneficial for life? In the 17th chapter through several expressions this has been made explicit and now in the 18th chapter, the Blessed Lord Shri Krishna is giving the inspiration to listen attentively to the efficient causes of action, in accordance with the three attributes which are of three types.