bhagavad-gitagitakrishnamoksha-sannyasa-yoga

Bhagavad Gita 18.13 — Panchaitani Maha-baho

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १८.१३ — पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 During study and contemplation of the nature of action and doership·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 13

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

As Krishna analyses the nature of action, He tells Arjuna to learn from Him the five factors that bring about the accomplishment of every action, as taught in the Sankhya philosophy. This verse introduces a profound analysis showing that no action is performed by the individual alone; many factors cooperate. Understanding this dissolves the false sense of being the sole doer and leads toward freedom from the bondage of action.

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 13 · Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva) · Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)

In the eighteenth chapter, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, after teaching about renunciation, Krishna turns to analyse the nature of action itself. Here He invites Arjuna to learn the five factors that accomplish every deed, as set forth in the Sankhya doctrine — an analysis that dissolves the illusion of being the sole doer.

✦ As told in scripture

The sages teach that one who truly understands the five factors of action ceases to be bound by deeds, for, seeing that the Self is not the sole doer, such a person acts freely and remains untouched by the reactions of karma.

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The Mantra

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pañchaitāni mahā-bāho kāraṇāni nibodha me sānkhye kṛitānte proktāni siddhaye sarva-karmaṇām

Meaning:Learn from Me, O mighty-armed Arjuna, these five factors for the accomplishment of all actions, as declared in the Sankhya doctrine that teaches the ending of action's reactions.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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pañcha etāni🔊these five

mahā-bāho🔊O mighty-armed one (Arjuna)

kāraṇāni🔊causes; factors

nibodha me🔊learn from Me; understand from Me

sānkhye🔊in the Sankhya (philosophy of analysis)

kṛitānte🔊in the doctrine that ends (the reactions of) action; the Vedanta

proktāni🔊declared; stated

siddhaye🔊for the accomplishment

sarva-karmaṇām🔊of all actions

Benefits of Chanting श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १८.१३ — पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो

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Introduces the Gita's profound analysis of the factors behind action

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Helps dissolve the false ego of being the sole doer

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Leads toward freedom from the bondage of karma

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Cultivates humility by revealing how many factors enable any deed

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Deepens understanding of selfless action and surrender

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A verse for contemplating the true nature of doership

How to Chant श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १८.१३ — पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो

Repetitions11times

Best TimeDuring study and contemplation of the nature of action and doership

Recite this verse while reflecting on how every action arises from many cooperating factors, not from oneself alone. As you chant, let the analysis Krishna introduces loosen the ego's claim to be the sole doer. Read it together with the verses that follow (18.14 onward), which name the five factors, and let it deepen your practice of egoless, surrendered action.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १८.१३ — पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Krishna tells Arjuna to learn the five factors that bring about the accomplishment of all actions, as taught in the Sankhya philosophy. It introduces an analysis of action that the following verses develop in detail.

The verses that follow (18.14) name them: the body (the seat of action), the doer, the various senses or instruments, the different kinds of effort, and divine providence (daiva). Together these factors bring every action to completion.

It shows that no action is performed by the individual ego alone; many factors cooperate. Understanding this dissolves the false sense of sole doership, helping the seeker act without pride and attachment, and thus move toward freedom from the bondage of karma.

'Maha-baho' means 'O mighty-armed one', an epithet of Arjuna highlighting his strength as a warrior. Krishna often addresses him this way to rouse his attention and dignity as He imparts important teaching.