Bhagavad Gita · Verse 3.33
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (कर्मयोगः)
(The Supreme Lord said)
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि । प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ॥३३॥
sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛterjñānavānapi | prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ||33||
Complete Shloka Translation
Even a knowledgeable person acts in accordance with their own nature. Beings follow nature; what can mere suppression accomplish?
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| प्रकृतिः | prakṛtiḥ | nature or disposition |
| निग्रहः | nigrahaḥ | suppression or restraint |
| सदृशं | sadṛśaṃ | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
| चेष्टते | ceṣṭate | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
| स्वस्याः | svasyāḥ | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
| प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि | prakṛterjñānavānapi | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
| प्रकृतिं | prakṛtiṃ | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
| यान्ति | yānti | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
| भूतानि | bhūtāni | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
| किं | kiṃ | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
| करिष्यति | kariṣyati | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
| ३३ | kariṣyati | [term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac... |
nature or disposition
suppression or restraint
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
[term] in context of Even a knowledgeable person ac...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
Krishna questions brute suppression, not every form of restraint. The next verse distinguishes acknowledging attraction and aversion from allowing them to govern action.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Effective discipline begins by understanding one's tendencies."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
What tendency would benefit from understanding rather than force alone?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse in your daily career and work life: discharge your responsibilities wholeheartedly as an act of service and social welfare, freeing your mind from selfish anxiety and burnout.