Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 18 भगवद् गीता अध्याय 18 श्लोक 18 ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना। करणं कर्म कर्तेति त्रिविधः कर्मसंग्रहः।।18.18।। हिंदी अनुवाद - स्वामी रामसुख दास जी ( भगवद् गीता 18.18) ।।18.18।।ज्ञान? ज्ञेय और परिज्ञाता -- इन तीनोंसे कर्मप्रेरणा होती है तथा करण? कर्म और कर्ता -- इन तीनोंसे कर्मसंग्रह होता है। English Translation of Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Shankaracharya's 18.18 Jnanam, knowledge (-being derived in the sense of that through which something is known, jnana means knowledge concerning all things in general-): so also jneyam, the object of knowledge (-that also is a reference to all objects in general-); similarly, parijnata, the knower, the experiencer, a product of ignorance, who partakes of the nature of the limiting adjuncts;-thus, this tripartite group formed by these is the trividha, threefold; karma-codana, inducement ot action, inducer of all actions in general. For, it is when the three, viz knowledge etc., combine that commencement of all actions meant either for acceptance or rejection [Acceptance, rejection or indifference.] are possible. After that, what are initiated by the five, viz locus etc., and are grouped in three ways according to the differences of their being based on speech, mind and body become comprehended under the three, viz instrument etc. This is what is being stated: Karma-sangrahah, the comprehension [It is well know that actions are based on the three-instrument etc.] of actions; iti, comes under; trividhah, three heads, three classes; viz karanam, the instrument (-derived in the sense of that through which anything is done-), i.e. the external (organs) (ear etc.) and the internal (organs) (intellect etc.); karma, the object (-derivatively meaning that which is most cherished by the subject and is achieved through an act-); and karta, the subject (agent), who employs the instrument etc., who partakes of the nature of the limiting adjuncts. Sangrahah is derived thus: that in which something is comprehended. The comprehension of action (karma) is karma-sangrahah. Indeed, action becomes included in these three. Hence is this threefold comprehension of action. Now then, since action, instrument and result are all constituted by the gunas, it becomes necessary to state the three fold variety in them based on the differences among the gunas, viz sattva, rajas and tamas. Hence it is begun: English Translation of Commentary - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan 18.18 Jnanam etc. Prompting-in-action : the will to exert. At that time those things which - because they exist in ones thought alone - are referable by the terms knowledge, obect-of-knowledge and knowing-subject; at the time of that will (to exert) taking the form I shall enjoy it; for it is caused by me as well as at the time of executing th act, the very same things-because they are fully absorbed [in desire for fruits] - get the names instrument, object and agent. Therefore, because there is no such absorption [in desire for fruits] in the case of the men of Yoga, there is no room in their action for the expressions instrument etc.; rather they exist only as knowledge etc. This is the purport here. Now [the Lord] speaks to explain, in brief, the classification of all these six items, basing on the classification of the Strands :- English Translation of Ramanuja's Sanskrit Commentary 18.18 (i) Knowledge means this knowledge about the acts which ought to be performed. (ii) The object of knowledge is the act which ought to be performed. (iii) The knower is the person who knows that act. The meaning is that the injunction to do acts, like Jyotistoma etc., is a combination of knowledge, object of knowledge, and the knower. Among these, action itself, which is the object of knowledge, is briefly described as threefold - these being the instrument, action and the agent. The instrument forms the materials etc., which are the means. The action consists of the sacrifice etc. The agent is the performer. Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 18.18Jnaanam jneyam parijnaataa trividhaa karmachodanaa; Karanam karma karteti trividhah karmasangrahah. Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 18.18jñānam—knowledge; jñeyam—the object of knowledge; parijñātā—the knower; tri-vidhā—three factors; karma-chodanā—factors that induce action; karaṇam—the instrumens of action; karma—the act; kartā—the doer; iti—thus; tri-vidhaḥ—threefold; karma-saṅgrahaḥ—constituents of action