Topic

Witness

5 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on witness. Explore teachings across 4 chapters.

All Verses

Pralapan visrijan grihnan unmishan nimishann api, indriyanindriyartheshu vartanta iti dharayan

Speaking, releasing, grasping, opening and closing the eyes — the yogi understands that it is only the senses moving among their objects. The Self remains untouched, like a witness behind all bodily and sensory activity.

  • Sensory activity is the domain of the instruments, not the Self
  • The yogi maintains clear discrimination between Self and body
  • Constant awareness of non-doership liberates the practitioner
Mayadhyakshena prakritih suyate sa-caracaram, hetunanena kaunteya jagad viparivartate

Under My supervision, material nature (prakriti) produces all moving and unmoving things. By reason of this, O son of Kunti, the world revolves. The Lord is the supreme overseer who directs nature's activity while remaining uninvolved — the witness consciousness behind all phenomena.

  • The Lord is the supreme witness and overseer of all creation
  • Prakriti acts under divine supervision, not independently
  • All movement in creation is sustained by God's guiding presence
Prakrityaiva cha karmani kriyamanani sarvashah, yah pashyati tathatmanam akartaram sa pashyati

One who sees that all actions are performed by Prakriti alone, and that the Self is not the doer — that person truly sees. The realization that material nature is the actual agent of all activity liberates consciousness from the burden of doership.

  • All actions are performed by Prakriti, not the soul
  • The Self is a non-doer, a witness of nature's activity
  • Freedom from doership is key to liberation