In Bhagavad Gita 18.15, Krishna says whatever action a person undertakes with body, speech or mind, right or wrong, these five are its causes.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्
कर्म प्रारभते नरः
न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा
पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः ॥ १८-१५ ॥
śarīravāṅmanobhiryat
karma prārabhate naraḥ
nyāyyaṃ vā viparītaṃ vā
pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ
English transliteration shareeravaanmanobhiryat
karma praarabhate narah
nyaayyam vaa vipareetam vaa
panchaite tasya hetavah ॥ 18.15 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whatever action a person undertakes with body, speech or mind, whether right or wrong, these five are its causes.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| शरीरवाङ्मनोभिः śarīravāṅmanobhiḥ | with body, speech or mind śarīra (body) + vāk (speech) + manobhiḥ (mind) |
| यत् yat | whatever |
| कर्म karma | action |
| प्रारभते prārabhate | undertakes |
| नरः naraḥ | a person |
| न्याय्यम् nyāyyam | right |
| वा vā | or |
| विपरीतम् viparītam | wrong |
| वा vā | or |
| पञ्च pañca | five |
| एते ete | these |
| तस्य tasya | its |
| हेतवः hetavaḥ | causes |
Word-wise Chanting
- śa–rī–ra–vāṅ–ma–no–bhir–yat– 8 syllables sha-ree-ra-vaan-ma-no-bhir-yat-
- kar–ma prā–ra–bha–te na–raḥ | 8 syllables kar-ma praa-ra-bha-te na-rah
- nyāy–yaṃ vā vi–pa–rī–taṃ vā 8 syllables nyaay-yam vaa vi-pa-ree-tam vaa
- pañ–cai–te tas–ya he–ta–vaḥ || 18-15 8 syllables pan-chai-te tas-ya he-ta-vah
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 15
Context
Krishna continues the analysis (18.13–18.17).
Meaning
Every act, whether of śarīra, body, vāk, speech, or manas, mind, and whether nyāyya, right, or viparīta, wrong, depends on these five causes together.
No action is the product of a single cause. This understanding fosters both humility and compassion toward others’ mistakes.
In Practice
When someone makes a mistake today, remember the many factors behind it and respond with understanding.
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.