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Bhagavad Gita 3.27 meaningWhy action matters

In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it

“Only the ego thinks, ‘I am doing everything.’”

What it means

“All actions are carried out by the forces of nature. Only someone confused by ego thinks, ‘I am the one doing everything.’”

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The original Sanskrit · known as “Prakriteh Kriyamanani”

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः । अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते ॥

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ ahaṅkāravimūḍhātmā kartāhamiti manyate

Translations

Literal translation

While actions are being done in every way by the gunas (qualities) of Nature, one who is deluded by egoism thinks thus: 'I am the doer.'

Swami Gambhirananda

हिंदी अनुवाद

सम्पूर्ण कर्म प्रकृति के गुणों द्वारा किये जाते हैं, अहंकार से मोहित हुआ पुरुष, "मैं कर्ता हूँ" ऐसा मान लेता है।

Swami Tejomayananda

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Commentaries

How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.

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Keep reading · 3.28“Someone who understands how nature's forces work sees that the senses are simply interacting with the world — and doesn't get attached.”