Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 18.60 स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा
श्लोक 18.60
स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा ।
कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत् ॥
svabhāvajena kaunteya nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā |
kartuṃ necchasi yanmohātkariṣyasyavaśo'pi tat ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे कौन्तेय! अपने स्वभाव से उत्पन्न कर्म से बँधे होने के कारण, जिसे तुम मोहवश करना नहीं चाहते, उसे भी विवश होकर करोगे।
Meaning in English
O Kaunteya, bound by your own duty born of your nature, what you do not wish to do out of delusion, you will do even against your will.
Bhagavad Gita 18.60 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| स्वभावजेन | svabhāva-jena | born of your nature |
| कौन्तेय | kaunteya | O son of Kunti |
| निबद्धः | nibaddhaḥ | bound |
| स्वेन | svena | by your own |
| कर्मणा | karmaṇā | by duty, action |
| कर्तुम् | kartum | to do |
| न इच्छसि | na icchasi | you do not wish |
| यत् | yat | what |
| मोहात् | mohāt | out of delusion |
| करिष्यसि | kariṣyasi | you will do |
| अवशः | avaśaḥ | helplessly |
| अपि | api | even |
| तत् | tat | that |
Explanation
Bound by your own duty, born of your nature, O son of Kunti, you will do helplessly the very thing that, out of delusion, you do not wish to do. Nature cannot be escaped by refusing to act; it can only be lived wisely or unwisely.
This continues the previous verse. Arjuna can act freely and wisely, or be pushed into the same action by forces he does not understand. Shankara sees it as the compelling power of past tendencies. Ramanuja links it to the governance of the Lord described in the next verse (18.61). Tilak and Aurobindo draw from it that the real choice is not whether to act but whether to act consciously, as an offering, or blindly, driven by nature.
भावार्थ
हे कौन्तेय, अपने स्वभाव से उत्पन्न कर्म से बँधे हुए तुम, जिस कर्म को मोह के कारण अभी करना नहीं चाहते, उसे भी अपने स्वभाव के वश होकर अवश्य करोगे।
Living it today
Some duties will catch up with you anyway; it is better to take them up willingly, with clear eyes, than to be dragged into them later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 18.60?
Bound by your own duty, born of your nature, O son of Kunti, you will do helplessly the very thing that, out of delusion, you do not wish to do. Nature cannot be escaped by refusing to act; it can only be lived wisely or unwisely.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.60?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 18.60 in daily life?
Some duties will catch up with you anyway; it is better to take them up willingly, with clear eyes, than to be dragged into them later.
Reflected on verse 18.60?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.