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Chapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness · 29 verses

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Soul & knowledgeChapter 5 · Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
5.135.15

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 5.14

Knowledge and equal vision

न कर्तृत्वं न कर्माणि लोकस्य सृजति प्रभु: ।

न कर्मफलसंयोगं स्वभावस्तु प्रवर्तते ॥ १४ ॥

na kartṛtvaṁ na karmāṇi

lokasya sṛjati prabhuḥ

na karma-phala-saṁyogaṁ

svabhāvas tu pravartate

Translation

The embodied spirit, master of the city of his body, does not create activities, nor does he induce people to act, nor does he create the fruits of action. All this is enacted by the modes of material nature.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

The Soul and Material Nature

  1. 1The embodied soul does not create actions, make others act, or produce results. The modes of material nature do this.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that the soul is distinct from matter but suffers by wrongly identifying with the temporary body.
  3. 3Turn to Kṛṣṇa consciousness: the purport says this alone saves the soul from all material turmoil.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 5, Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: knowledge and equal vision.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Discern the eternal self from the temporary.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 5.14 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?

Practice

Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.

4

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 5.15Knowledge and equal visionBG 5.16Knowledge and equal visionBG 2.13The self endures bodily changeBG 4.34The humility of real inquiry

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 5.14 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.