टीका

Commentary

Krishna clarifies that the five factors described in the previous verse apply to every kind of action — whether performed through the body, through speech, or through the mind, and whether the action is righteous or unrighteous.

The words nyayyam (proper, in accordance with scripture) and viparitam (improper, against scriptural injunction) are significant. The five factors operate regardless of the moral quality of the action. Both virtuous and sinful actions arise from the same five causes working together.

This has an important implication: right action, when performed under divine guidance and in accordance with scripture, leads to liberation. Wrong action, performed in ignorance of the Lord’s will, leads to bondage. But in both cases, the mechanics are the same — body, doer, senses, effort, and divine sanction.

The mention of body, speech, and mind (shareera-vaang-manobhih) covers the entire range of human activity. Physical actions, verbal actions (including prayer, teaching, and harmful speech), and mental actions (thoughts, intentions, meditation) — all are governed by these five factors. Understanding this prevents the false pride of thinking “I alone did this” and the false guilt of thinking “I alone am responsible.”