In Bhagavad Gita 13.21, Krishna says nature is the cause of the body, the senses and action, while the spirit is the cause of the experience of pleasure and pain.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे
हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते
पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां
भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते ॥ १३-२१ ॥
kāryakāraṇakartṛtve
hetuḥ prakṛtirucyate
puruṣaḥ sukhaduḥkhānāṃ
bhoktṛtve heturucyate
English transliteration kaaryakaaranakartritve
hetuh prakritiruchyate
purushah sukhaduhkhaanaam
bhoktritve heturuchyate ॥ 13.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Nature is said to be the cause in the production of effects, instruments and agency; the Spirit is said to be the cause in the experience of pleasure and pain.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे kāryakāraṇakartṛtve | in the production of effects, instruments and agency kārya (effects) + kāraṇa (instruments) + kartṛtve (agency) |
| हेतुः hetuḥ | cause |
| प्रकृतिः prakṛtiḥ | nature |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
| पुरुषः puruṣaḥ | the Spirit |
| सुखदुःखानाम् sukhaduḥkhānām | of pleasure and pain sukha (pleasure) + duḥkhānām (pain) |
| भोक्तृत्वे bhoktṛtve | in the experience |
| हेतुः hetuḥ | cause |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
Word-wise Chanting
- kār–ya–kā–ra–ṇa–kar–tṛt–ve 8 syllables kaar-ya-kaa-ra-na-kar-trit-ve
- he–tuḥ pra–kṛ–ti–ruc–ya–te | 8 syllables he-tuh pra-kri-ti-ruch-ya-te
- pu–ru–ṣaḥ su–kha–duḥ–khā–nāṃ 8 syllables pu-ru-shah su-kha-duh-khaa-naam
- bhok–tṛt–ve he–tu–ruc–ya–te || 13-21 8 syllables bhok-trit-ve he-tu-ruch-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 13 Verse 21
Context
Krishna continues explaining nature and spirit (13.20–13.24).
Meaning
Prakṛti produces kārya, the body and its effects; kāraṇa, the senses and mind as instruments; and kartṛtva, the sense of being a doer. The puruṣa is responsible only for bhoktṛtva, the experiencing of pleasure and pain. Nature acts; consciousness experiences.
Understanding this division reduces the burden of identifying with every action. Activity belongs to nature; we are its witness and experiencer.
In Practice
During a busy activity today, notice that nature is acting while you are the one aware of it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga (The Field and the Knower of the Field). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.