In Bhagavad Gita 13.30, Krishna says that one who sees that all actions are performed by nature alone, and that the Self is not the doer, truly sees.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
प्रकृत्यैव च कर्माणि
क्रियमाणानि सर्वशः
यः पश्यति तथात्मानम्
अकर्तारं स पश्यति ॥ १३-३० ॥
prakṛtyaiva ca karmāṇi
kriyamāṇāni sarvaśaḥ
yaḥ paśyati tathātmānam
akartāraṃ sa paśyati
English transliteration prakrityaiva cha karmaani
kriyamaanaani sarvashah
yah pashyati tathaatmaanam
akartaaram sa pashyati ॥ 13.30 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who sees that all actions are performed in every way by nature alone, and that the Self is not the doer, truly sees.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| प्रकृत्या prakṛtyā | by nature |
| एव eva | alone |
| च ca | and |
| कर्माणि karmāṇi | actions |
| क्रियमाणानि kriyamāṇāni | performed |
| सर्वशः sarvaśaḥ | in every way |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| पश्यति paśyati | sees |
| तथा tathā | also |
| आत्मानम् ātmānam | the Self |
| अकर्तारम् akartāram | not the doer |
| सः saḥ | he |
| पश्यति paśyati | truly sees |
Word-wise Chanting
- pra–kṛt–yai–va ca kar–mā–ṇi 8 syllables pra-krit-yai-va cha kar-maa-ni
- kri–ya–mā–ṇā–ni sar–va–śaḥ | 8 syllables kri-ya-maa-naa-ni sar-va-shah
- yaḥ paś–ya–ti ta–thāt–mā–nam– 8 syllables yah pash-ya-ti ta-thaat-maa-nam-
- a–kar–tā–raṃ sa paś–ya–ti || 13-30 8 syllables a-kar-taa-ram sa pash-ya-ti
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 30
Context
Krishna continues to describe true vision (13.28–13.31).
Meaning
All actions are carried out by prakṛti, nature, through body, mind and senses. The ātmā is akartṛ, not the doer. One who understands this paśyati, truly sees, and is freed from the burden of agency.
This does not license careless action. It frees us from the ego’s claim to be the doer, so that action becomes lighter and purer.
In Practice
As you complete tasks today, remind yourself: nature acts, I witness.
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.