Devanagari
पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे ।
सांख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम् ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
paṣcaitāni mahā-bāho
kāraṇāni nibodha me
sāṅkhye kṛtānte proktāni
siddhaye sarva-karmaṇām
Synonyms
paṣca
—
five
;
etāni
—
these
;
mahā-bāho
—
O mighty-armed one
;
kāraṇāni
—
causes
;
nibodha
—
just understand
;
me
—
from Me
;
sāṅkhye
—
in the Vedānta
;
kṛta-ante
—
in the conclusion
;
proktāni
—
said
;
siddhaye
—
for the perfection
;
sarva
—
of all
;
karmaṇām
—
activities.
Translation
O mighty-armed Arjuna, according to the Vedānta there are five causes for the accomplishment of all action. Now learn of these from Me.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
13. O Mighty-armed one, learn from Me the five factors necessary for completion of action, which are mentioned in the Vedānta, which speaks about the destruction of karma.
Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
13. O Mighty-armed one, learn from Me the five factors necessary for completion of action, which are mentioned in the Vedānta, which gives the conclusion of the scriptures.
Purport
A question may be raised that since any activity performed must have some reaction, how is it that the person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not suffer or enjoy the reactions of work? The Lord is citing Vedānta philosophy to show how this is possible. He says that there are five causes for all activities, and for success in all activity one should consider these five causes. Sāṅkhya means the stock of knowledge, and Vedānta is the final stock of knowledge accepted by all leading ācāryas. Even Śaṅkara accepts Vedānta-sūtra as such. Therefore such authority should be consulted.
The ultimate control is invested in the Supersoul. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ. He is engaging everyone in certain activities by reminding him of his past actions. And Kṛṣṇa conscious acts done under His direction from within yield no reaction, either in this life or in the life after death.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
“But how can doing action not give karmic results?”
In order to establish that there is no contamination of karma when performing actions without false identification, the Lord speaks five verses.
For the completion (siddhaye) of all actions, know these five factors from My words (me). Sāṅkhya means to speak (khyā) directly (samyak) about the Paramātmā. These five causes are mentioned in the Vedānta scriptures (sāṅkhye), whose purpose is to destroy karma (kṛtānte).
Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)
“But why do those who perform actions (and renounce the results) not obtain results (which are binding to this world)?”
“This happens because such a person renounces the concept of being the doer himself, and has the conviction that the Supreme Lord is the main doer.” Five verses explain this principle.
Know (nibodha) from Me the five causes for the accomplishment (siddhaye) of all actions, O Mighty-armed one! The Lord then mentions the proof for this. This is described in that which produces knowledge—sāṅkhya—the Vedānta scripture (sāṇkhye). How is it described? It produces conclusions (kṛtānte). Vedānta concludes that paramātmā is the initiator of all other causes of action. He is known as antaryāmi- brahman, the brahman within. This has also been stated in the Gītā in verses such as sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi (BG 15.15), and will be stated later in other verses such as īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānām (BG 18.61)
Surrender Unto Me
Krsna's purpose in explaining the five cause will be known soon.