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Shloka 33

Karma-Saṃnyāsa–Karma-Yoga Saṃvāda

Renunciation and the Discipline of Action

सम्बन्ध-- पूर्वश्लोकम्ें यह बात कही गयी कि भगवान्‌के मतके अनुसार न चलनेवाला नष्ट हो जाता है। इसपर यह जिज्ञासा होती है कि यदि कोई भगवान्‌के मतके अनुसार कर्म न करके हठपूर्वक कर्मोका सर्वथा त्याग कर दे तो क्या हानि है? इसपर कहते हैं-- सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्या: प्रकृतेज्ञानवानपि । प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रह: कि करिष्यति,सभी प्राणी प्रकृतिको प्राप्त होते हैं अर्थात्‌ अपने स्वभावके परवश हुए कर्म करते हैंः। ज्ञानवान्‌ भी अपनी प्रकृतिके अनुसार चेष्टा करता है, फिर इसमें किसीका हठ क्‍या करेगा?

sadṛśaṁ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛter jñānavān api | prakṛtiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati ||

ज्ञानवानसुद्धा आपल्या प्रकृतीप्रमाणेच चेष्टा करतो. सर्व प्राणी आपल्या स्वभावालाच अनुसरतात; मग हठाने केलेला निग्रह तरी काय साधणार?

sadṛśamsimilar (accordingly)
sadṛśam:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootsadṛśa
Formneuter, accusative, singular
ceṣṭateacts, endeavors
ceṣṭate:
TypeVerb
Rootceṣṭ (dhātu)
Formpresent (laṭ), 3rd, singular, ātmanepada
svasyāḥof one’s own
svasyāḥ:
TypePronoun/Adjective
Rootsva
Formfeminine, genitive, singular
prakṛteḥof (one’s) nature
prakṛteḥ:
TypeNoun
Rootprakṛti
Formfeminine, genitive, singular
jñānavāna wise man, knowledgeable (person)
jñānavān:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootjñānavant
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
apieven, also
api:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi
prakṛtimnature
prakṛtim:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootprakṛti
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
yāntigo, proceed, follow
yānti:
TypeVerb
Rootyā (dhātu)
Formpresent (laṭ), 3rd, plural, parasmaipada
bhūtānibeings, creatures
bhūtāni:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootbhūta
Formneuter, nominative, plural
nigrahaḥrestraint, suppression
nigrahaḥ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootnigraha
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
kimwhat?
kim:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootkim
Formneuter, accusative, singular
kariṣyatiwill do, will accomplish
kariṣyati:
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (dhātu)
Formfuture (lṛṭ), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

अजुन उवाच

A
Arjuna

Educational Q&A

Arjuna highlights that behavior arises from one’s prakṛti (innate disposition). Therefore, external or forceful suppression alone (nigraha) cannot reliably prevent action; ethical discipline must work with, and transform, one’s nature rather than merely repress it.

In the dialogue context, Arjuna raises a doubt: if beings inevitably act according to their nature, what is the practical value of restraint or renunciation done stubbornly? This question sets up the need to explain disciplined action and inner mastery rather than mere withdrawal.