In Bhagavad Gita 3.36, Arjuna asks what impels a person to commit sin, even unwillingly, as if driven by force.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं
पापं चरति पूरुषः
अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय
बलादिव नियोजितः ॥ ३-३६ ॥
atha kena prayukto’yaṃ
pāpaṃ carati pūruṣaḥ
anicchannapi vārṣṇeya
balādiva niyojitaḥ
English transliteration atha kena prayukto’yam
paapam charati poorushah
anichchhannapi vaarshneya
balaadiva niyojitah ॥ 3.36 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: Then by what is a person impelled to commit sin, O Varshneya, even against his will, as if driven by force?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अथ atha | then |
| केन kena | by what |
| प्रयुक्तः prayuktaḥ | impelled |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| पापम् pāpam | sin |
| चरति carati | commits |
| पूरुषः pūruṣaḥ | a person |
| अनिच्छन् anicchan | not wishing |
| अपि api | even |
| वार्ष्णेय vārṣṇeya | O descendant of Vṛṣṇi (Kṛṣṇa) |
| बलात् balāt | by force |
| इव iva | as if |
| नियोजितः niyojitaḥ | compelled |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–tha ke–na pra–yuk–to–‘yaṃ 8 syllables a-tha ke-na pra-yuk-to-‘yam
- pā–paṃ ca–ra–ti pū–ru–ṣaḥ | 8 syllables paa-pam cha-ra-ti poo-ru-shah
- a–nic–chan–na–pi vār–ṣṇe–ya 8 syllables a-nich-chhan-na-pi vaar-shne-ya
- ba–lā–di–va ni–yo–ji–taḥ || 3-36 8 syllables ba-laa-di-va ni-yo-ji-tah
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 36
Context
After hearing about attachment and aversion (3.34), Arjuna asks a deeply human question.
Meaning
Arjuna asks what everyone has wondered: why do we do what we know is wrong, even when we do not want to? It feels as if some force compels us against our will. The question shows that Arjuna is now reflecting on his own inner life, not only on the war.
This is one of the most practical questions in the Gita. Knowing what is right is not enough; something in us pulls the other way. Krishna’s answer in the following verses names this force and shows how to overcome it. Self-knowledge begins with honest questions like this one.
In Practice
Recall one recent time you did something you knew was not right. Ask honestly what force seemed to push you.
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.