18.11

na hi deha-bhṛtā śakyaḿ
tyaktuḿ karmāṇy aśeṣataḥ
yas tu karma-phala-tyāgī
sa tyāgīty abhidhīyate

Translation

It is indeed impossible for an embodied being to give up all activities. But he who renounces the fruits of action is called one who has truly renounced.

18.12

aniṣṭam iṣṭaḿ miśraḿ ca
tri-vidhaḿ karmaṇaḥ phalam
bhavaty atyāgināḿ pretya
na tu sannyāsināḿ kvacit

Translation

For one who is not renounced, the threefold fruits of action—desirable, undesirable and mixed—accrue after death. But those who are in the renounced order of life have no such result to suffer or enjoy.

18.13

pañcaitāni mahā-bāho
kāraṇāni nibodha me
sāńkhye kṛtānte proktāni
siddhaye sarva-karmaṇām

Translation

O mighty-armed Arjuna, according to the Vedanta there are five causes for the accomplishment of all action. Now learn of these from Me.

18.14

adhiṣṭhānaḿ tathā kartā
karaṇaḿ ca pṛthag-vidham
vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā
daivaḿ caivātra pañcamam

Translation

The place of action [the body], the performer, the various senses, the many different kinds of endeavor, and ultimately the Supersoul—these are the five factors of action.

18.15

śarīra-vāń-manobhir yat
karma prārabhate naraḥ
nyāyyaḿ vā viparītaḿ vā
pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ

Translation

Whatever right or wrong action a man performs by body, mind or speech is caused by these five factors.

18.16

tatraivaḿ sati kartāram
ātmānaḿ kevalaḿ tu yaḥ
paśyaty akṛta-buddhitvān
na sa paśyati durmatiḥ

Translation

Therefore one who thinks himself the only doer, not considering the five factors, is certainly not very intelligent and cannot see things as they are.

18.17

yasya nāhańkṛto bhāvo
buddhir yasya na lipyate
hatvāpi sa imāḻ lokān
na hanti na nibadhyat

Translation

One who is not motivated by false ego, whose intelligence is not entangled, though he kills men in this world, does not kill. Nor is he bound by his actions.

18.18

jñānaḿ jñeyaḿ parijñātā
tri-vidhā karma-codanā
karaṇaḿ karma karteti
tri-vidhaḥ karma-sańgrahaḥ

Translation

Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower are the three factors that motivate action; the senses, the work and the doer are the three constituents of action.

18.19

jñānaḿ karma ca kartā ca
tridhaiva guṇa-bhedataḥ
procyate guṇa-sańkhyāne
yathāvac chṛṇu tāny api

Translation

According to the three different modes of material nature, there are three kinds of knowledge, action and performer of action. Now hear of them from Me.

18.20

sarva-bhūteṣu yenaikaḿ
bhāvam avyayam īkṣate
avibhaktaḿ vibhakteṣu
taj jñānaḿ viddhi sāttvikam

Translation

That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all living entities, though they are divided into innumerable forms, you should understand to be in the mode of goodness.