238. Thought to Action
W hen we (the knower) see a flower (the object of knowledge), we take in its colour and smell (knowledge) among other attributes. This situation induces various actions. A poet might write poetry describing the flower’s beauty. The poet is the doer who uses a pen as an instrument and writing poetry is the action. Similarly, a devotee might pluck the flower to offer it to their deity; a lover might pluck it to present to their beloved; a botanist would proceed to examine its nature. In this regard Krishna says, “Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower are the three factors that induce karma (action). The instrument of action, the act itself and the doer - are the three constituents of action” (18.18). As illustrated earlier with the example of a flower, the knowledge acquired by the knower about an object is highly subjective. This subjectivity explains why different individuals are inspired to take different actions in the same situation. A point to be noted is that karma...