Chapter 3, Verse 27
Karma Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
prakṛiteḥ—of material nature; kriyamāṇāni—carried out; guṇaiḥ—by the three modes; karmāṇi—activities; sarvaśhaḥ—all kinds of; ahankāra-vimūḍha-ātmā—those who are bewildered by the ego and misidentify themselves with the body; kartā—the doer; aham—I; iti—thus; manyate—thinks
English translation
All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks, "I am the doer."
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 3.27
Commentary
Prakriti or Pradhana or Nature is that state in which the three Gunas; viz.; Sattva; Rajas and Tamas exist in a state of eilibrium. When this eilibrium is disturbed; creation begins body; senses; mind; etc.; are formed. The man who is deluded by egoism identifies the Self with the body; mind; the life force and the senses and ascribes to the Self all the attributes of the body and the senses. He; therefore; thinks through ignorance; I am the doer. In reality the Gunas of Nature perform all actions. (Cf. III.29V.9IX.9; 10XIII.21; 24; 30; 32XVIII.13; 14).
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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