Chapter 3: Karma Yoga – Transforming All Activities into Yoga: Verse 33
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्या: प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि ।
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रह: किं करिष्यति ।।
sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyā: prakṛter-jñānavān-api
prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni nigraha: kiṃ kariṣyati – 3.33
Even the man of knowledge acts according to his prakṛti. All beings follow their own nature. What can control do?
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga – Transforming All Activities into Yoga - Verse 33
Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha
Krishna makes a singular statement as to how inexorable is human nature. Everyone acts under the influence of Nature’s guṇas. Nature’s grip is too strong and none can escape it. This plight cannot be dealt with by anyone from outside. Even the Wise acts under the influence of his nature.
Each has to restrain himself, from within. Others can only guide or help in the matter, as Krishna does in the case of Arjuna, who began with a firm refusal to fight, calling it sinful.
Krishna denounced this stand vehemently with reason, revealing the fundamental truths of human personality as well as interactional life. Arjuna, though stunned, reflected upon the message, and raised pertinent questions. His grief gave place to deep enquiries. Krishna makes Arjuna act with wisdom and restraint. The correction and control can only be from oneself, not from another.
