ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना | करणं कर्म कर्तेति त्रिविधः कर्मसंग्रहः ||१८-१८||
jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ parijñātā trividhā karmacodanā . karaṇaṃ karma karteti trividhaḥ karmasaṃgrahaḥ ||18-18||
Chapter 18 · Verse 18
Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
मोक्षसंन्यासयोग
In plain words
Knowledge the knower and the thing to be known are together the seed of this world. This is known as the Triputi or the traid. It is the conjunction of these three that impels a man to threefold action viz.
Translation
18.18 Knowledge, object of knowledge and the knower are the threefold incitements to action. The instrument, the act and the agent are the threefold constituents of action.
Meaning
Knowledge the knower and the thing to be known are together the seed of this world. This is known as the Triputi or the traid. It is the conjunction of these three that impels a man to threefold action viz. mental verbal and physical. This triad is the driving force of all the activities of man. He rejoices at the sight of palatable sweetmeats and delicious fruits but is terrified at the sight of a cobra or tiger. The sight of pleasant or unpleasant objects affects him and he attempts either to possess the agreeable objects or to avoid the disagreeable ones. The Antahkarana (the inner instrument) consists of the mind intellect subconscious mind and egoism. The ear the skin the tongue the nose and the eye are the five organs of knowledge. The individual soul propelled by these five senses is led into activity. He does actions with the help of the five organs of action viz. speech hands feet genitals and anus. Jnanam Any knowledge knowledge in general knowledge of worldly objects etc. Jneyam The object to be known objects in general. Parijnata The knower the experiencer or the enjoyer putting on the nature of the limiting adjuncts a creature of ignorance. This triad forms the threefold impulse to all action to action in general. The performance of an action in order to get a thing or to avoid an object is possible only when there is the conjunction of the three viz. knowledge knowable and knower. Karanam The organ That by which something is done. The actions done by the five causes of action viz. the body etc. which are grouped under the three classes according to their respective seats viz. mind speech and body are all due to the interplay of the organ etc. Karta The agent or the doer he who sets the organs in motion or action and puts on the nature of the limiting adjunct or vehicle in which he acts. All actions inhere in these three (the organ the doer and the action itself) and they are therefore said to form the basis or the threefold constituents of action. As action the various factors of action and the fruits are all made up of the Gunas the Lord describes them in the following verses.
Word by word
ज्ञानम् knowledge ज्ञेयम् the knowable परिज्ञाता the knower त्रिविधा threefold कर्मचोदना impulse to action करणम् the organ कर्म the action कर्ता the agent इति thus त्रिविधः threefold कर्मसंग्रहः the basis of action.