In Bhagavad Gita 5.14, Krishna says the Lord does not create doership, actions or the link between actions and their fruits; it is nature that operates.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न कर्तृत्वं न कर्माणि
लोकस्य सृजति प्रभुः
न कर्मफलसंयोगं
स्वभावस्तु प्रवर्तते ॥ ५-१४ ॥
na kartṛtvaṃ na karmāṇi
lokasya sṛjati prabhuḥ
na karmaphalasaṃyogaṃ
svabhāvastu pravartate
English transliteration na kartritvam na karmaani
lokasya srijati prabhuh
na karmaphalasamyogam
svabhaavastu pravartate ॥ 5.14 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Lord does not create the sense of doership in people, nor their actions, nor the link between action and its fruit. It is nature that carries all this out.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| कर्तृत्वम् kartṛtvam | doership |
| न na | not |
| कर्माणि karmāṇi | actions |
| लोकस्य lokasya | of the people |
| सृजति sṛjati | creates |
| प्रभुः prabhuḥ | the Lord |
| न na | not |
| कर्मफलसंयोगम् karmaphalasaṃyogam | the link of action with fruit karma (action) + phala (fruit) + saṃyogam (union) |
| स्वभावः svabhāvaḥ | nature |
| तु tu | but |
| प्रवर्तते pravartate | operates |
Word-wise Chanting
- na kar–tṛt–vaṃ na kar–mā–ṇi 8 syllables na kar-trit-vam na kar-maa-ni
- lo–kas–ya sṛ–ja–ti pra–bhuḥ | 8 syllables lo-kas-ya sri-ja-ti pra-bhuh
- na kar–ma–pha–la–saṃ–yo–gaṃ 8 syllables na kar-ma-pha-la-sam-yo-gam
- sva–bhā–vas–tu pra–var–ta–te || 5-14 8 syllables sva-bhaa-vas-tu pra-var-ta-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 5 Verse 14
Context
Krishna explains the relationship between the Self or Lord and action (5.14–5.15).
Meaning
The prabhu, the Lord, here the Self within or the Supreme, does not personally create the sense of “I am the doer,” the actions themselves or their results. These arise from svabhāva, nature: the interplay of the guṇas and the tendencies of each being. The Self remains a non-participating witness.
This verse removes the idea of a God who arbitrarily assigns actions and rewards. Our actions and their consequences arise from nature and our own tendencies. Responsibility lies in how we use our nature, while the Self in us remains pure.
In Practice
When something happens to you today, reflect on how your own tendencies and choices contributed to it, without blaming God or fate.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 5: Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of 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.