पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे | साङ्ख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम् ||१८-१३||
pañcaitāni mahābāho kāraṇāni nibodha me . sāṅkhye kṛtānte proktāni siddhaye sarvakarmaṇām ||18-13||
Chapter 18 · Verse 13
Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
मोक्षसंन्यासयोग
Translation
18.13 Learn from Me, O Arjuna, these five causes for the accomplishment of all acts, as described in Sankhya-krtanta - the science of the exact understanding of things for the accomplishment of works.
Meaning
The Self has no connection whatevr with activity. Nature does everything. The Self is the silent witness. He remains indifferent. The whole superstructure of human activity is the result of the five welldefined causes which are enumerated in the following verse. Etani These Which are going to be mentioned. Sankhya Vedanta Knowledge of the Self as taught in the Vedanta (the Upanishads) puts an end to all actions. This is the reason why the term Kritante (the end of actions) is used here. When the knowledge of the Self arises all actions terminate. This is taught in chapter II verse 46 To the Brahman who has known the Self al the Vedas are of so much use as is a reservoir of water in a place where there is a flood everywhere. Again in verse 33 of chapter IV it is said All actions in their entirety. O Arjuna culminate in knowledge. Vedanta therefore which imparts knowledge of the Self is the end of action. A liberated sage who has attained the knowledge of the Self in accordance with the instructions laid down in the Vedanta becomes a Kritakritya (one who has done everything and has nothing more to do).
Word by word
पञ्च five एतानि these महाबाहो O mightyarmed कारणानि causes निबोध learn मे from Me सांख्ये in the Sankhya कृतान्ते which is the end of all actions प्रोक्तानि as declared सिद्धये for the accomplishment सर्वकर्मणाम् of all actions.