In Bhagavad Gita 18.14, Krishna names the five causes: the body, the doer, the various instruments, the many kinds of effort, and the divine or unseen factor as the fifth.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता
करणं च पृथग्विधम्
विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा
दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम् ॥ १८-१४ ॥
adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā
karaṇaṃ ca pṛthagvidham
vividhāśca pṛthakceṣṭā
daivaṃ caivātra pañcamam
English transliteration adhishthaanam tathaa kartaa
karanam cha prithagvidham
vividhaashcha prithakcheshtaa
daivam chaivaatra panchamam ॥ 18.14 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The seat of action, the doer, the various instruments, the many different kinds of effort, and, the fifth, the divine factor.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अधिष्ठानम् adhiṣṭhānam | the seat of action (the body) |
| तथा tathā | also |
| कर्ता kartā | the doer |
| करणम् karaṇam | instruments |
| च ca | and |
| पृथग्विधम् pṛthagvidham | various pṛthak (different) + vidham (kinds) |
| विविधाः vividhāḥ | many |
| च ca | and |
| पृथक् pṛthak | different |
| चेष्टाः ceṣṭāḥ | efforts |
| दैवम् daivam | the divine factor |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | indeed |
| अत्र atra | here |
| पञ्चमम् pañcamam | the fifth |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–dhiṣ–ṭhā–naṃ ta–thā kar–tā 8 syllables a-dhish-thaa-nam ta-thaa kar-taa
- ka–ra–ṇaṃ ca pṛ–thag–vi–dham | 8 syllables ka-ra-nam cha pri-thag-vi-dham
- vi–vi–dhāś–ca pṛ–thak–ceṣ–ṭā 8 syllables vi-vi-dhaash-cha pri-thak-chesh-taa
- dai–vaṃ cai–vāt–ra pañ–ca–mam || 18-14 8 syllables dai-vam chai-vaat-ra pan-cha-mam
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 18 Verse 14
Context
Krishna names the five causes (18.13–18.17).
Meaning
The five causes are: adhiṣṭhāna, the body as the base; kartā, the agent or ego-sense; karaṇa, the senses and instruments; ceṣṭā, the many efforts and functions; and daiva, the unseen factor, providence or past karma.
Daiva reminds us that outcomes depend partly on what is beyond our control. This keeps us humble in success and steady in failure.
In Practice
In one outcome today, recognise the role played by factors beyond your control.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.