Chapter 3, Verse 16 (Bhagavad Gita 3.16)
Chapter 3: Karm Yog – Path of Selfless Service
Sanskrit Shloka
एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः। अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति
Transliteration
evaṁ pravartitaṁ chakraṁ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati
Word Meanings
evam—thus; pravartitam—set into motion; chakram—cycle; na—not; anuvartayati—follow; iha—in this life; yaḥ—who; agha-āyuḥ—sinful living; indriya-ārāmaḥ—for the delight of their senses; mogham—vainly; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; saḥ—they; jīvati—live
Translation
He who does not follow the cycle thus set in motion, whose life is sinful, and who revels in the senses, lives in vain, O Arjuna.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse addresses the cosmic necessity of yajna, or selfless action, as the engine of existence. It warns that when an individual isolates themselves through sensory indulgence and egoistic hoarding, they disrupt the natural harmony of the universe. Spiritually, life is intended to be a participatory process of service and sacrifice; to live only for self-gratification is to live in a state of delusion. By failing to contribute to the greater cycle of creation, one's existence loses its purpose and depth. True maturity lies in recognizing oneself as a vital part of a grander, interconnected whole.