Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada
Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan
Bg 18.19
jñānaṁ karma ca kartā ca
tridhaiva guṇa-bhedataḥ
procyate guṇa-saṅkhyāne
yathāvac chṛṇu tāny api
Synonyms:
jñānam — knowledge; karma — work; ca — also; kartā — worker; ca — also; tridhā — of three kinds; eva — certainly; guṇa–bhedataḥ — in terms of different modes of material nature; procyate — are said; guṇa–saṅkhyāne— in terms of different modes; yathā–vat — as they are; śṛṇu — hear; tāni — all of them; api — also.
Translation:
According to the three different modes of material nature, there are three kinds of knowledge, action and performer of action. Now hear of them from Me.
chṛṇu tāny api, Arjuna please chṛṇu hear yathāvac,
yathāvac chṛṇu tāny api
procyate guṇa-saṅkhyāne
please hear this analysis in terms of the three modes,
guṇa-saṅkhyāne, in terms of three modes
What are this analysis tridhaiva guṇa-bhedataḥ
these three things can be analyzed in terms of three modes
What are the three things? jñānaṁ karma ca kartā ca
So in upcoming verse we will see Krishna will talk about Gyana in three modes, Karam in three modes and Karta in three modes.
In previous verse He has talked about the six elements which He has reduced into three. Why is that? Let us look at this.
18.18 (6 elements) –> 18.19 (3 elements)
Elements in red is left out by Krishna because they can be joined or combined with other elements.
- Jnana–knowledge
- Jneya-that which is to be known as an impetus for action
- Parijnata–knower
- Karanam-senses
- Karma –action
- Karta -doer
Parijnata= Karta; karanam & jneya–matter
And Parijnata and Karta are the same, doer. The person who is the doer and the person who is knower is the same. A person can learn singing and sings are the same.
Jnana is related with the Gyanedriyas and
Karma with Karmendriyas more with actions.
So jñānaṁ karma ca kartā ca, these three are kept separate.
Parijnata is combined with Karta
And Jneya and Karanam are dead matter practically speaking, so object of knowledge and instrument of knowledge these Krishna doesn’t include because they are just dead matter. So we cannot transform dead matters certain elements are made of certain things and modes and they are just the way they are. Krishna is talking these analysis from transformational perspective, and that is why He focuses on that which can be transformed.
So jñānaṁ karma ca kartā ca will be analyzed.
18.19-39: analysis of action as per three modes
20-22: Jnana, knowledge –first step in action
23-25: Karma –nature of action
26 -28: karta–nature of the doer / actor
How are they related with action? Jnana is first step in action, only when I have knowledge I will do something, e.g. knowledge that Chocolate is delicious, then go to mother, I want chocolate, then the person goes and get the chocolate. So Jnana, Karta and Karma all three make action unfolded.
Then Krishna will have 29th verse and transitional where He will describe Buddhi, dhrti and sukha, again in terms of three modes, so Buddhi is understanding, so we will discuss Jnana and Buddhi when we will come to it, Jnana is more in terms of conceptual knowledge, Buddhi is more in terms of seeing things in proper perspective. Dhrti is determination, one has to continue to act in determination to get the result then the ultimate phala which is Sukha one can get, so the Sukha that we get is also three types, in goodness, passion and ignorance.
Srila Prabhupada Purport: “In the Seventeenth Chapter, the different types of worship by different types of men in different modes of material nature were described. In this verse, the Lord says that He wishes to speak about the different types of knowledge, workers and work itself according to the three material modes.”
30-32: buddhi –the understanding for action
33-35: dhrti–determination for action
36-39: sukha-fruit of action, that is, happiness
End of transcription.
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