Commentary

Commentary

Krishna now enumerates the five factors that together produce every action. These are: (1) adhishthana — the body, which is the seat or field of action; (2) karta — the individual soul who considers itself the doer; (3) karana — the various senses and instruments of action; (4) cheshta — the different types of effort or endeavor; and (5) daiva — the Supersoul, the divine sanction, the ultimate cause.

The word adhishthanam refers to the body. The soul within the body performs action, and the body provides the field in which action takes place. The soul is therefore referred to as the karta (doer). The senses — eyes, ears, hands, feet, tongue, and the mind — serve as the instruments (karana) through which the soul acts. The various types of effort (cheshta) refer to the different kinds of physical, mental, and vital activity involved. And finally, daiva refers to the Supersoul — the Supreme Lord who resides in the heart as the ultimate controller and sanctioner of all activities.

This analysis has a profound practical implication. Since action is the combined result of five factors, the individual soul should not arrogantly think “I alone am doing this.” The body, the senses, the life force, and ultimately the Lord Himself all play a role. A person acting in Krishna consciousness recognizes the Lord as the supreme cause and therefore remains free from the bondage of karma.