Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionKrishna
Verse 33
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 33
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि।
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति॥३३॥
Transliteration
Sadrisham Cheshtate Svasyah Prakriter-Jnanavan-Api.
Prakritim Yanti Bhutani Nigrahah Kim Karishyati.||33||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
सदृशम्sadrishamin accordance with
चेष्टतेcheshtateacts/strives
स्वस्याःsvasyahof one's own
प्रकृतेःprakritehnature
ज्ञानवान्jnanavana person of knowledge
अपिapieven
प्रकृतिम्prakritimnature
यान्तिyantifollow
भूतानिbhutanibeings
निग्रहःnigrahahrepression
किम्kimwhat
करिष्यतिkarishyatiwill accomplish
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
ज्ञानवान मनुष्य भी अपनी प्रकृति (स्वभाव) के अनुसार ही आचरण करता है। सभी प्राणी प्रकृति का अनुसरण करते हैं — बलपूर्वक दमन से क्या होगा?
English Translation
Even a person of knowledge acts according to their own nature. All beings follow their nature — what can forceful repression accomplish?
Commentary (टीका)
Krishna acknowledges the powerful grip of one's innate tendencies (samskaras). Even a knowledgeable person is influenced by their conditioning. This is not a counsel of despair but of realism — transformation requires gradual inner change, not violent suppression. Understanding one's nature is the first step to transcending it.