Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionArjuna
Verse 36
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 36
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
अर्जुन उवाच —
अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः।
अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः॥३६॥
Transliteration
Arjuna Uvacha —
Atha Kena Prayukto'yam Papam Charati Purushah.
Anichchhann-Api Varshneya Balad-Iva Niyojitah.||36||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
अथathathen
केनkenaby what
प्रयुक्तःprayuktahimpelled
अयम्ayamthis
पापम्papamsin
चरतिcharaticommits
पूरुषःpurushaha person
अनिच्छन्anichchhanunwillingly
अपिapieven
वार्ष्णेयvarshneyaO descendant of Vrishni (Krishna)
बलात्balatby force
इवivaas if
नियोजितःniyojitahengaged/compelled
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
अर्जुन ने कहा — हे वार्ष्णेय (कृष्ण)! तो फिर मनुष्य न चाहते हुए भी किसके द्वारा प्रेरित होकर बलपूर्वक पाप का आचरण करता है?
English Translation
Arjuna said: O Varshneya (Krishna), then by what is a person impelled to commit sin, even unwillingly, as if driven by force?
Commentary (टीका)
Arjuna asks one of the most psychologically penetrating questions in the Gita. He has observed that people often do wrong despite knowing better — as if compelled by an invisible force. This question about the nature of temptation and inner compulsion opens the door to Krishna's powerful teaching on desire and anger as the enemies of the soul.