1. The listener asks the speaker, "Who is the doer? Who created the visible world and the universe? Please give a definitive answer."
2. Then many knowledgeable people in the gathering began speaking one after another. The listeners are respectfully asked to listen to what they had to say.
3. Some said, "God is the doer," and some said, "Who is God?" Then everyone went on expressing their own opinion.
4. Everyone considered their own beliefs to be superior, and according to their own feelings they expressed their opinions as to what beliefs were the best, medium, or lowly.
(Note: Stanzas 5 through 17 list various Hindu Gods as being the doer according to various opinions.)
5. Some say that Lord Ganesha is the doer and some say that the Goddess Saraswati does everything.
6. Some say that the doer is God Bhairav. Some say it is Khanderav, some say it is God Beeradev, and some say Goddess Bhagwati.
7. Some say it is Lord Narasimha, some say it is Banashankari, and some say it is Lord Narayana who does everything.
8. Some say it is Lord Rama who is the doer. Some say it is Lord Krishna, and some say it is the God Keshavaraj who is the doer.
9. Some say that it is Panduranga (Vithalla), some say it is Shrirang (Lord Krishna), and some say it is the God of Spirits who does everything.
10. Some say that it is the spirit of a brahmin who is the doer. Some say it is the Sun that is the doer, and some say it is Fire that is the doer of everything.
11. Some say it is the Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, who does everything. Some say it is Hanuman, and some say it is the Earth that does all.
12. Some way it is the Goddess Tukai, some say Yemai, and some say it is Satvai who does everything.
13. Some say that Bhargava is the doer, some say its Wamana (incarnation of Vishnu) who is the doer, and some say that Paramatman, the Supreme Self is alone the doer of everything.
14. Some say it is Viranna, some say it is Basvanna, and some say it is Revanna who is the doer of everything.
15. Some say it is Ravalya, some say it is Kartika, and some say it is Lord Venkatesha who is the doer of all.
16. Some say that the Guru is the doer, some say that Lord Dattatraya is the doer, and some say it is the Vodhya Jaganath who does everything.
17. Some say that Lord Brahma is the doer, some say that Lord Vishnu is the doer, and some say that it is Lord Shiva that is definitely the doer.
18. Some say it is the rain that is the doer, while some way that it is the wind. Some say that the doer is the attributeless God, who is a non-doer, doing everything.
19. Some say that it is the power of Illusion that does everything. Some way it is the individual (Jiva), and some say that everything is done by destiny.
20. Some say that it is one’s own efforts and the nature of the mind that does everything, and some say, "Who knows who is the doer?"
21. Like this are some of the various thoughts about the doer. It is like a marketplace filled with many varieties of answers. Now, whose answer is to be considered correct?
22. Whatever God people believe in, they call that God the doer. Like this, the confusion among people never gets diminished.
23. Their minds have formed conclusions and they hold onto them because of pride and never investigate to see what is really true.
24. There are many opinions of many people, but these must be kept aside entirely, otherwise the circus of opinions will overwhelm you and confusion remains. The thought regarding the investigation into the doer will now be given.
25. The listeners are asked to remain alert. Speculation as to who the doer is should definitely be broken. The knowledgeable consider only the understanding that comes through experience to be proof.
26. Whatever is done by the doer all happens after him. Nothing done can be found to exist before the doer.
27. Whatever has been done comes out of the five elements. Even gods like Brahma and others are made up only of the five elements. It is not possible that anything that is made up of the five elements can make the five elements.
28. Separate the five elements and set them aside, and then recognize the doer. The five elements are naturally contained within the doer.
29. That which is attributeless is different from the five elements. There is no doership in it. Who can attach the quality of change to That which is changeless?
30. Activity does not happen in That which is without attributes (nirguna), and attributes (saguna) are included in what has already been created. Now, look with subtle observation to see who the doer is.
31. Who is the doer of this false appearance? Asking this question is not appropriate. Therefore, it is only proper to say that whatever has happened is of the nature of Brahman.
32. Brahman is both with attributes (saguna), and without attributes (nirguna). To what should doership be attached? Analyze the explanation of this and see for yourself.
33. If we say that Brahman with attributes has made the attributes, that is saying that attributes were already created previously, and it is not correct to say that Brahman without attributes is the doer.
34. Here, no doer can be seen. Therefore, on the basis of this experience, one comes to the conclusion that the visible is unreal.
35. If whatever is done is all false, to then talk about who the doer is, is meaningless. The speaker says that this must be seen using the power of discrimination.
36. Seeing this clearly, one gains the experience. Why then would one become confused when this certainty is in one's inner experience?
37. Now, enough of this talk. Only one who uses the power of discrimination will understand what is being spoken about. The primary premise of the Vedas must be discarded because what is being indicated here cannot be described with words.
38. At that time, the listener asked the question, "Who is the enjoyer and the sufferer in the body?" The explanation of this will follow in the next sub-chapter.