Bhagavad Gita 13.21 · Krishna
Who acts, and who feels
कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे हेतुः प्रकृतिरुच्यते।
पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते॥
kāryakāraṇakartṛtve hetuḥ prakṛtirucyatepuruṣaḥ sukhaduḥkhānāṃ bhoktṛtve heturucyate
Nature is called the cause of body, senses and action. Spirit is called the cause of experiencing pleasure and pain.
Words
- prakṛti
- puruṣa
What it means
Krishna divides the work. Prakriti, nature, produces the body, the senses and all activity. Purusha, spirit, is the one who experiences pleasure and pain. The body acts, and the conscious spirit feels. Seeing this division clearly is the beginning of inner freedom.
The story
Arjuna's body trembled, his senses reeled. Krishna explains that those were nature's workings. The one who suffered was the spirit, mistaking nature's storms for itself.
In your life
Think of watching a film that makes you cry, while knowing you're safe in your seat. Experience, and witness. When pain comes today, feel it, and remember you're also the one watching.
Feel fully, and remember the witness.