Chapter 18 • Verse 16
तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः। पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न स पश्यति दुर्मतिः॥
tatraivaṁ sati kartāram ātmānaṁ kevalaṁ tu yaḥ paśhyaty akṛita-buddhitvān na sa paśhyati durmatiḥ
Meaning
Therefore, one who, due to impure understanding, sees the self alone as the doer — that person of perverted intelligence does not see rightly.
Given these five factors, thinking 'I alone am the doer' is ignorance. Such perverted understanding misses the truth of how actions occur. True seeing includes all five factors.
Strength Reflection
"I don't see myself as the sole doer — that is ignorant understanding."
Devotional Surrender
O Lord, purify my understanding so I see correctly how actions occur.