Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan

Now go to the next verse to see what are those factors.

Bg 18.14

adhiṣṭhānaṁ tathā kartā
karaṇaṁ ca pṛthag-vidham
vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā
daivaṁ caivātra pañcamam

Synonyms: 

adhiṣṭhānam — the place; tathā — also; kartā — the worker; karaṇam — instruments; ca — and; pṛthak–vidham— of different kinds; vividhāḥ — various; ca — and; pṛthak — separate; ceṣṭāḥ — the endeavors; daivam — the Supreme; ca — also; eva — certainly; atra — here; pañcamam — the fifth.

Translation: 

The place of action [the body], the performer, the various senses, the many different kinds of endeavor, and ultimately the Supersoul – these are the five factors of action.

 adhiṣṭhānaṁ tathā kartā, 

  1. adhiṣṭhānaṁ, the place 
  2. kartā, the doer

karaṇaṁ ca pṛthag-vidham

  1. karaṇaṁ, the instruments through the action is done, so here it refers to the senses
  2. vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā, the various endeavors that are done

daivaṁ caivātra pañcamam, 

  1. daivaṁ, destiny or the will of the Lord or Supersoul specifically because we are talking about material actions over here

Let us understand these five factors with a simple example:

 adhiṣṭhānaṁ tathā kartā
karaṇaṁ ca pṛthag-vidham

e.g. in cricket batsman hit sixer so what are the factors involved?

  1. The pitch 
  2. First the batsman has to be alive – Karta
  3. Karnam – his hand (in good condition)

So first there is a doer and instrument for doing the action

  1. So it is not that any person can hit sixer the batsman should be expert particularly when the bowler is expert. So endeavor is there. There has to be practice. Practice makes a man perfect. Even a person is talented for talent to transform to achievement a serious practice should be there. So that is ceṣṭā. vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā
  2. And then there is daivaṁ caivātra pañcamam, generally every sports person knows that destiny played a very significant role in life and it is in all walks of life. 

They know that for peak performance there are also higher providence involved and their superstitious nature is a way to reach out that higher providence. 

Who wants to be out of form but a person goes out of form, these factors are not in our control entirely. So sometimes despite our diligence things will not work. 

  1. adhiṣṭhānaṁ, as Srila Prabhupada has translated as place of work in word to word meaning and in sentence translation as the body. So in general my overall body should the healthy and the particular organ used in this case hand should also be healthy. Some commentator mentions place of action that in this case is the pitch, if pitch is bad it is very difficult to perform so that is also one factor in the performance.

So these factors should be considered. So basically Krishna is telling there are these different points of action, and one should consider these factors and act accordingly. 

So He says that a wise person Gyani acknowledges these factors and doesn’t arrogate to oneself, assume to oneself the credit when the credit is not due.

End of transcription.