Word meanings
- prakṛteḥ
- of material nature
- kriyamāṇāni
- carried out
- guṇaiḥ
- by the three modes
- karmāṇi
- activities
- sarvaśaḥ
- all kinds of
- ahankāra-vimūḍha-ātmā
- those who are bewildered by the ego and misidentify themselves with the body
- kartā
- the doer
- aham
- I
- iti
- thus
- manyate
- thinks
Translations
All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks, "I am the doer."
Action is the product of the qualities inherent in nature. It is only the ignorant man who, misled by personal egotism, says, "I am the doer."
While actions are being done in every way by the gunas (qualities) of Nature, one who is deluded by egoism thinks, "I am the doer."
सम्पूर्ण कर्म सब प्रकारसे प्रकृतिके गुणोंद्वारा किये जाते हैं; परन्तु अहंकारसे मोहित अन्तःकरणवाला अज्ञानी मनुष्य 'मैं कर्ता हूँ' -- ऐसा मानता है।Commentary
Prakriti or Pradhana or Nature is that state in which the three Gunas, viz.? Sattva? Rajas and Tamas exist in a state of eilibrium. When this eilibrium is disturbed, creation begins body, senses, mind, etc., are formed. The man who is deluded by egoism identifies the Self with the body, mind, the life force and the senses and ascribes to the Self all the attributes of the body and the senses. He, therefore, thinks through ignorance? I am the doer. In reality the Gunas of Nature perform all actions.
(Cf.III.29V.9IX.9-10XIII.21-24-30-32XVIII.13-14).