SYNONYMS

arjunah uvaca–Arjuna said; atha–hereafter; kena–by what; prayuktah–impelled; ayam–one; papam–sins; carati–acts; purusah–a man; anicchan–without desiring; api–although; varsneya–O descendant of Vrsni; balat–by force; iva–as if; niyojitah–engaged.

TRANSLATION

Arjuna said: O descendant of Vrsni, by what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?

SYNONYMS
sreyan–far better; sva-dharmah–one’s prescribed duties; vigunah–even faulty; para-dharmat–from duties mentioned for others; svanusthitat–than perfectly done; sva-dharme–in one’s prescribed duties; nidhanam–destruction; sreyah–better; para-dharmah–duties prescribed for others; bhaya-avahah–dangerous.

TRANSLATION
It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though they may be faultily, than another’s duties. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous.

SYNONYMS
indriyasya–of the senses; indriyasya arthe–in the sense objects; raga–attachment; dvesau–also detachment; vyavasthitau–put under regulations; tayoh–of them; na–never; vasam–control; agacchet–one should come; tau–those; hi–certainly; asya–his; paripanthinau–stumbling blocks.

TRANSLATION
Attraction and repulsion for sense objects are felt by embodied beings, but one should not fall under the control of senses and sense objects because they are stumbling blocks on the path of self-realization.

SYNONYMS
sadrsam–accordingly; cestate–tries; svasyah–in one’s own nature; prakrteh–modes; jnana-van–learned; api–although; prakrtim–nature; yanti–undergo; bhutani–all living entities; nigrahah–suppression; kim–what; karisyati–can do.

TRANSLATION
Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows his nature. What can repression accomplish?

SYNONYMS
saktah–being attached; karmani–prescribed duties; avidvamsah–the ignorant; yatha–as much as; kurvanti–do it; bharata–O descendant of Bharata; kuryat–must do; vidvan–the learned; tatha–thus; asaktah–without attachment; cikirsuh–desiring to; loka-sangraham–leading the people in general.

TRANSLATION
As the ignorant perform their duties with attachment to results, similarly the learned may also act, but without attachment, for the sake of leading people on the right path.

SYNONYMS
utsideyuh–put into ruin; ime–all these; lokah–worlds; na–do not; kuryam–perform; karma–prescribed duties; cet–if; aham–I; sankarasya–of unwanted population; ca–and; karta–creator; syam–shall be; upahanyam–destroy; imah–all these; prajah–living entities.

TRANSLATION
If I should cease to work, then all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would also be the cause of creating unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all sentient beings.

SYNONYMS

yadi–if; hi–certainly; aham–I; na–do not; varteyam–thus engage; jatu–ever; karmani–in the performance of prescribed duties; atandritah–with great care; mama–My; vartma–path; anuvartante–would follow; manusyah–all men; partha–O son of Prtha; sarvasah–in all respects.

TRANSLATION

For, if I did not engage in work, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path.