In Bhagavad Gita 3.33, Krishna observes that even a wise person acts according to his own nature; beings follow their nature, so what can mere suppression achieve?
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः
प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि
निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ॥ ३-३३ ॥
sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ
prakṛterjñānavānapi
prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni
nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati
English transliteration sadrisham cheshtate svasyaah
prakriterjnaanavaanapi
prakritim yaanti bhootaani
nigrahah kim karishyati ॥ 3.33 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Even a wise person acts in accordance with his own nature. All beings follow their nature. What can mere repression accomplish?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सदृशम् sadṛśam | in accordance |
| चेष्टते ceṣṭate | acts |
| स्वस्याः svasyāḥ | of one’s own |
| प्रकृतेः prakṛteḥ | nature |
| ज्ञानवान् jñānavān | a wise person |
| अपि api | even |
| प्रकृतिम् prakṛtim | nature |
| यान्ति yānti | follow |
| भूतानि bhūtāni | beings |
| निग्रहः nigrahaḥ | repression |
| किम् kim | what |
| करिष्यति kariṣyati | will accomplish |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa–dṛ–śaṃ ceṣ–ṭa–te svas–yāḥ 8 syllables sa-dri-sham chesh-ta-te svas-yaah
- pra–kṛ–ter–jñā–na–vā–na–pi | 8 syllables pra-kri-ter-jnaa-na-vaa-na-pi
- pra–kṛ–tiṃ yān–ti bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables pra-kri-tim yaan-ti bhoo-taa-ni
- nig–ra–haḥ kiṃ ka–riṣ–ya–ti || 3-33 8 syllables nig-ra-hah kim ka-rish-ya-ti
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 3 Verse 33
Context
Krishna explains why people act as they do (3.33–3.35).
Meaning
Everyone has a prakṛti, an inborn nature shaped by past tendencies. Even the learned act according to it. Trying to suppress one’s nature by force achieves little; it tends to spring back. The wiser course is to understand one’s nature and direct it toward right action.
This verse is realistic about human psychology. Willpower alone rarely changes deep tendencies. Instead of fighting our nature, we can channel it: a fiery person into courageous service, a gentle person into care, a thoughtful person into teaching. Transformation works with nature, not against it.
In Practice
Name one strong tendency in yourself that you have tried to suppress. Look for a constructive way to channel it instead.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.