“I am not controlled; I am free,” I do not speak well for my sanity. In this conditioned state of life, at any rate, we are all controlled. Next we may consider
prakrti , or Nature. Then time—the duration of the existence or manifestation of this created universe. Then  karma , or activity. The living beings are all engaged in different activities. All cosmic manifestation is engaged in activity.
So, we have to learn from Bhagavad-gita what God is. What is the nature of the living entity? Its relationship with the supreme controller? What is  prakrti , the cosmic manifestation? What is the control of time? And what are the activities of the living entities?
In the  Bhagavad-gita  it is established that the Supreme, or Krsna—or  Brahman , or whatever you like—the supreme controller is greatest of all. The living beings are controlled. The Lord has control over universal affairs—the material Nature. Material Nature is not independent. It is working under the direction of the Supreme Lord. When we see wonderful things happening, we should know that behind these manifestations there is a controller. Matter belongs to the inferior nature, or  prakrti , 1  and the living entities are explained as being of the superior nature.  Prakrti  means “who is controlled.”  Prakrti  is female. A husband controls the activities of his wife.  Prakrti  is also subordinate, predominated. The Lord—the Supreme Personality of Godhead—is the predominator, and  prakrti —the living entities and material Nature—is predominated over. So, according to the  Bhagavad-gita  the living entities, although they are part and parcel of the Supreme, are taken as  prakrti . It is clearly mentioned in the Secenth Chapter of  Bhagavad-gita  that this material Nature is  prakrti  and that the living entities are also  prakrti . The constitution of the material, or inferior  prakrti , is divided into three modes: the mode of goodness, the mode of passion, and the mode of ignorance. Above these modes is eternal time. By the combinations of these modes and the control of eternal time, the activities, called  karma , come into being. These activities have been going on from time immemorial, and we are suffering from—or enjoying—the fruits of these activities, just as in the present life we enjoy the fruits of our activities. It is as though I am a businessman who has worked very hard and intelligently and has amassed a large bank balance. I am the enjoyer of the fruits of my activities. Again, if I open a business with a large amount of money and lose it all, I am the sufferer. Similarly, in the field of life, we enjoy the different fruits of our work. Now, these things—the Supreme, the living entities,  prakrti  or Nature, time, and  karma  are explained in the  Bhagavad-gita .