Quiz · 5.13–5.29
The one who is not the doer
Cover the answer. Read the Devanagari of the verse before you open it.
1
In 5.18, what case are gavi (गवि) and śuni (शुनि), and which words are those the forms of?
Answer
Locative singular. gavi (गवि) is the locative of go (गो), a cow. śuni (शुनि) is the locative of śvan (श्वन्), a dog. The same case is on brāhmaṇe (ब्राह्मणे), hastini (हस्तिनि), and śvapāke (श्वपाके). The learned see the same in each of them.
2
In 5.24, what does yo 'ntaḥsukhaḥ (योऽन्तःसुखः) undo to, and what did the sandhi drop?
Answer
यः + अन्तःसुखः yaḥ + antaḥsukhaḥ. अः + अ aḥ + a becomes o (ओ), and the a (अ) of antaḥ (अन्तः) is dropped. That dropped a (अ) is the avagraha ऽ. The same drop closes the verse: ब्रह्मभूतः + अधिगच्छति brahmabhūtaḥ + adhigacchati is recited brahmabhūto 'dhigacchati (ब्रह्मभूतोऽधिगच्छति).
3
What does 5.18 say, in one sentence?
Answer
The learned see the same in a brahmin endowed with learning and modesty, in a cow, in an elephant, in a dog, and in a dog-cooker.
4
Where do 5.13–5.29 sit in the talk between Arjuna (अर्जुन) and Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण)?
Answer
Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण) describes the one who does not think "I am doing this." The embodied one sits at ease in the city of nine gates, neither doing nor causing. The lord does not create doership, and he takes no one's evil and no one's good deed. The same sight falls on a learned brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-cooker. The chapter ends with knowing Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण) as the enjoyer of sacrifices and austerities, the great lord of all worlds, and the friend of all beings, and so reaching peace.
5
Say 5.13 back. Which pair shows you have the one who is not the doer?
Answer
kurvan (कुर्वन्) and kārayan (कारयन्), both negated: naiva kurvan na kārayan (नैव कुर्वन् न कारयन्). He sits in navadvāre pure (नवद्वारे पुरे), the city of nine gates, having laid the actions down with the mind. If either participle comes out as a positive "he does," stay here.