न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् ।
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ॥ ५ ॥
na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhatyakarma-kṛit
kāryate hyavaśhaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛiti-jair guṇaiḥ
श्लोक ५: कोई भी प्राणी एक क्षण भी कर्म किए बिना नहीं रह सकता, क्योंकि हर प्राणी को प्रकृति से प्राप्त गुण कर्म करने के लिए प्रेरित करते रहते हैं।
Shloka 5: No individual can remain without performing actions even for a single moment, as every being is inevitably driven to action by the qualities (gunas) one has received from nature (prakrti).
Bhagavad Gita verse 3.5 addresses a fundamental truth about human existence: the impossibility of complete inaction. Lord Krishna explains that no one can remain without performing action, even for a moment, as everyone is compelled to act by the qualities (gunas) born of material nature (prakriti).
In this verse, Krishna responds to a potential counterargument about renunciation. Some might believe that simply giving up all activities would lead to freedom from karma or spiritual perfection. However, Krishna clarifies that such complete inaction is impossible due to our inherent nature. The Sanskrit terms "na hi kaścit kṣaṇam api jātu tiṣṭhaty akarma-kṛt" emphasize that not a single person can remain without action even for a moment.
This teaching reveals a profound understanding of human psychology. Even if we physically restrain ourselves from external activity, our mind—an internal sense—continues to work ceaselessly. Thoughts, desires, and contemplations persistently arise within us, and these mental activities are also forms of action. Therefore, externally appearing inactive does not mean one has truly ceased all action, as mental activity continues unabated.
Krishna explains that we are "helplessly" (avaśaḥ) driven to action by the qualities we've acquired through our previous experiences and karma. These qualities—sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance)—influence our behavior in ways we often don't consciously control. Our accumulated impressions (samskaras) from past experiences form subconscious patterns that automatically direct our responses to situations.
This automatic nature of our actions explains why we sometimes behave in ways we hadn't planned or later regret. In challenging moments, we may speak or act impulsively, driven by these deeply ingrained tendencies rather than conscious choice. These impressions in our subconscious mind surface as habits of thinking, speaking, and behaving that govern virtually every aspect of our lives—often without our awareness until after we've already acted.
The verse highlights the futility of forced inaction. Just as an energetic child cannot be made to sit idle for long, our naturally active soul seeks expression. If this energy isn't channeled constructively through appropriate duties and activities, it may manifest in harmful or destructive ways. This principle applies broadly—from personal discipline to family dynamics to professional environments—suggesting that the wise approach is not to suppress action but to direct it properly.
Rather than attempting the impossible task of ceasing all action, Krishna's teaching points toward a different path: understanding our natural tendencies and learning to act with awareness. By recognizing the qualities that drive us and the impressions that shape our responses, we can begin to act more intentionally rather than reactively. This verse lays the foundation for Krishna's subsequent teachings about karma yoga—the path of selfless action—as the appropriate response to our inherently active nature.
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