Bhagavad Gita · Karma YogaChapter 3, Shloka 5 (3.5)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
न हि कश्चित् क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः
॥ 3.5 ॥
na hi kaścit kṣaṇamapi jātu tiṣṭhatyakarmakṛt
kāryate hyavaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛtijairguṇaiḥ
Translation
"For no one can ever remain even for a moment without acting; the gunas born of prakriti make everyone act, helplessly."
Interpretation
"Avaśaḥ" — helpless. A person acts not by choice but under the pressure of their nature. Guṇa — the three gunas (qualities) of prakriti — is one of the Gita's central ideas, which will be developed later (3.27–3.29, Chapter 14).
Shankaracharya — supplying "ajñaḥ" (the unknowing). Shankara says that here ajña iti vākya-śeṣaḥ — the word "the unknowing" is to be understood: every unknowing being acts helplessly, driven by the gunas. For later on (14.23) the wise one will be described as guṇair yo na vicālyate — one who is not shaken by the gunas. Therefore, according to Shankara, ajñānām eva hi karma-yogaḥ, na jñāninām — karma-yoga is for the unknowing, not for the wise.
Acharya Ramanuja — in spite of resolve. Na kiñcit karomi iti vyavasitaḥ api — even one who has resolved "I will do nothing" acts helplessly, driven by prāktana-karmānuguṇaṃ pravṛddhaiḥ guṇaiḥ — gunas grown strong in keeping with past actions. So first destroy old sins through karma-yoga and bring the gunas under control; then, with a pure mind, jnana-yoga becomes possible. Otherwise (3.6) — the person becomes a mithyācāra (hypocrite).
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.