Topic

Five-causes

2 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on five-causes. Explore teachings across 1 chapter.

All Verses

Chapter 18 • Verse 13 →The Yoga of Liberation and Renunciation
pancaitani maha-baho karanani nibodha me sankhye krtante proktani siddhaye sarva-karmanam

Krishna asks Arjuna to learn from the Sankhya system the five causes for the accomplishment of all actions. This teaching draws on the analytical tradition of Sankhya to explain the metaphysical structure underlying all activity.

  • •All actions have five underlying causes according to Sankhya philosophy
  • •Understanding these causes leads to true wisdom about agency
  • •Krishna integrates Sankhya analysis into his practical teaching
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Chapter 18 • Verse 14 →The Yoga of Liberation and Renunciation
adhisthanam tatha karta karanam ca prithag-vidham vividhas ca prithak cesta daivam caivatra pancamam

The five causes are: the body as the seat of action, the individual doer, the various instruments of sense and action, the different kinds of effort, and divine providence as the fifth factor. All actions arise from the interplay of these five.

  • •The body, doer, instruments, effort, and divine will are the five causes of action
  • •No action can be understood apart from this fivefold causation
  • •Recognizing divine providence as a factor humbles the ego's claim to sole agency
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