
3
CHAPTER
VERSE
27
प्रकृते: क्रियमाणानि गुणै: कर्माणि सर्वश: |
अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते || 3.27 ||
Prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ |
Ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham-iti manyate ||
All actions are performed by the qualities of nature. But one who is deluded by the ego thinks, "I am the doer."
Lesson:
All actions in the world are carried out by the qualities of nature, or "guṇas" in Sanskrit. These qualities include sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance), which influence human behavior and actions.
However, the verse highlights that those who are ignorant and deluded by their ego believe themselves to be the sole doers of their actions. This sense of ego, or "ahaṅkāra," leads individuals to mistakenly identify themselves as the ones responsible for their actions, disregarding the role of nature's qualities and divine order.
Lord Krishna teaches that this ego-driven belief is a form of illusion, as the true essence of action lies beyond the individual ego. Instead, actions arise from the interplay of various factors, including one's inherent qualities, past experiences, and the divine will.
Therefore, this verse encourages individuals to cultivate self-awareness and transcend the ego's illusion by recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings and the divine orchestration of actions in the universe. By doing so, one can attain a state of inner peace and harmony with the natural order of existence.