Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 33

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि ।
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ॥

Transliteration

sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛterjñānavānapi .
prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ॥

Meaning

Even the wise act in accord with their own nature; all beings follow nature — what can suppression accomplish?

Word meanings

सदृशम् – in accordance with
चेष्टते – acts, behaves
स्वस्याः – one's own
प्रकृतेः – nature
ज्ञानवान् – the wise
अपि – even
भूतानि – beings
प्रकृतिम् – nature
यान्ति – follow
निग्रहः – suppression, restraint
किम् – what
करिष्यति – will do

Anvaya (word order)

ज्ञानवान् अपि स्वस्याः प्रकृतेः सदृशं चेष्टते; भूतानि प्रकृतिं यान्ति; निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ।

Explanation

This verse shows a deep understanding of human nature. Every being has a nature shaped by past impressions and the gunas, and it gives direction to action. Even the wise one behaves according to his nature. Hence changing nature simply by willpower, by forcible pressure, is difficult. ‘Nigrahah kim karishyati’ — what will suppression do?

This is also an answer to Arjuna. If his nature is that of a warrior, then even if he resolved to leave action and sit in a forest, his nature would drag him back. Shankara takes the sense to be that, given the strength of nature, scripturally prescribed action is more fitting than mere prohibition or suppression. Ramanuja says that the power of nature comes from the impressions of the gunas such as sattva, and to cross it one needs refuge in the Lord.

This does not mean nature cannot change. The next verse will show that the remedy is to recognise attraction and aversion and not fall under their sway. That is, not forceful suppression but refinement of nature through understanding and practice.

The verse teaches us to know our temperament and choose the right direction accordingly, so that instead of fighting our energy we put it to meaningful action.

Context

After 3.32 the Lord speaks of the strength of nature. This verse prepares the ground for 3.34, where the means of escaping attraction and aversion is given.

Life lesson

Recognise your temperament and tendencies honestly. Understand and rightly direct them instead of merely suppressing them; forced suppression often leads to an outburst, not to refinement.

Key terms

Prakriti (svabhava): one's inborn disposition, formed by past impressions
Nigraha: forcible restraint, suppression
Cheshta: tendency, behaviour