Chapter 3 Verse 5
Karm Yog
न हि कश्िचत्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्। कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः।।3.5।।
na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhatyakarma-kṛit kāryate hyavaśhaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛiti-jair guṇaiḥ
Word Meanings
| na | not |
| hi | certainly |
| kaśhchit | anyone |
| kṣhaṇam | a moment |
| api | even |
| jātu | ever |
| tiṣhṭhati | can remain |
| akarma-kṛit | without action |
| kāryate | are performed |
| hi | certainly |
| avaśhaḥ | helpless |
| karma | work |
| sarvaḥ | all |
| prakṛiti-jaiḥ | born of material nature |
| guṇaiḥ | by the qualities |
Translation
Verily, no one can remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is made to act helplessly, indeed, by the qualities born of Nature.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse says that nobody can stop acting even for a moment. Even when we try to be still, our body, mind, and habits keep producing actions.
These actions come from our nature — the gunas — not from a simple choice to do nothing. So the teaching is not to avoid action, but to change how we act.
Spiritually, we are invited to act with awareness and right attitude. When we do our duty without clinging to results, action becomes a means of growth rather than a source of bondage.
Life Application
- Notice the small, automatic choices you make each day (words, reactions, habits) and bring calm attention to them before acting.
- Do your responsibilities with care and offer the outcome rather than insisting on a particular result.
- Build simple routines (work, rest, prayer) that channel natural impulses into steady, positive action.
Reflection Question
Where in your life can you turn automatic doing into mindful, purposeful action?