Chapter 3, Verse 36 (Bhagavad Gita 3.36)
Chapter 3: Karm Yog – Path of Selfless Service
Sanskrit Shloka
अर्जुन उवाच अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः। अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः
Transliteration
arjuna uvācha atha kena prayukto ’yaṁ pāpaṁ charati pūruṣhaḥ anichchhann api vārṣhṇeya balād iva niyojitaḥ
Word Meanings
arjunaḥ uvācha—Arjun said; atha—then; kena—by what; prayuktaḥ—impelled; ayam—one; pāpam—sins; charati—commit; pūruṣhaḥ—a person; anichchhan—unwillingly; api—even; vārṣhṇeya—he who belongs to the Vrishni clan, Shree Krishna; balāt—by force; iva—as if; niyojitaḥ—engaged
Translation
Arjuna said: But by what is a person impelled to commit sin, even against his will, as if compelled by force, O Krishna?
Meaning & Commentary
This verse addresses the universal human struggle against inner impulses that seem to override our better judgment. It highlights the conflict between our moral conscience and the hidden force of desire that often pushes us toward actions we regret. By asking this, Arjuna seeks to understand the root cause of our psychological slavery to base instincts. The teaching reveals that true self-mastery begins not by fighting external enemies, but by identifying and neutralizing the internal 'predators' of greed and anger. Ultimately, it invites us to cultivate mindfulness so that we can choose dharma over the mechanical reactions of the mind.