In Bhagavad Gita 3.5, Krishna explains that no one can remain without acting even for a moment, for everyone is driven to act by the qualities born of nature.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि
जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म
सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ॥ ३-५ ॥
na hi kaścitkṣaṇamapi
jātu tiṣṭhatyakarmakṛt
kāryate hyavaśaḥ karma
sarvaḥ prakṛtijairguṇaiḥ
English transliteration na hi kashchitkshanamapi
jaatu tishthatyakarmakrit
kaaryate hyavashah karma
sarvah prakritijairgunaih ॥ 3.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Indeed, no one can remain even for a moment without performing action, for everyone is helplessly made to act by the qualities born of nature.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| हि hi | indeed |
| कश्चित् kaścit | anyone |
| क्षणम् kṣaṇam | a moment |
| अपि api | even |
| जातु jātu | ever |
| तिष्ठति tiṣṭhati | remains |
| अकर्मकृत् akarmakṛt | without doing action a (not) + karma (action) + kṛt (doing) |
| कार्यते kāryate | is made to act |
| हि hi | indeed |
| अवशः avaśaḥ | helplessly |
| कर्म karma | action |
| सर्वः sarvaḥ | everyone |
| प्रकृतिजैः prakṛtijaiḥ | born of nature prakṛti (nature) + jaiḥ (born) |
| गुणैः guṇaiḥ | by the qualities |
Word-wise Chanting
- na hi kaś–cit–kṣa–ṇa–ma–pi 8 syllables na hi kash-chit-ksha-na-ma-pi
- jā–tu tiṣ–ṭhat–ya–kar–ma–kṛt | 8 syllables jaa-tu tish-that-ya-kar-ma-krit
- kār–ya–te hya–va–śaḥ kar–ma 8 syllables kaar-ya-te hya-va-shah kar-ma
- sar–vaḥ pra–kṛ–ti–jair–gu–ṇaiḥ || 3-5 8 syllables sar-vah pra-kri-ti-jair-gu-naih
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 5
Context
Krishna explains why withdrawal from action is impossible (following 3.4).
Meaning
As long as we have a body and mind, action continues: breathing, thinking, feeling, moving. The three guṇas of prakṛti, nature, keep everything in motion. Even sitting still is a kind of action. Therefore the real question is not whether to act, but how.
This verse removes an illusion. We cannot step outside of activity; life itself is movement. Accepting this frees us from the fantasy of escape and turns our attention to the quality of our actions. Since we must act, let us act wisely.
In Practice
For one hour today, notice how much you are always doing, even when “resting.” Then choose to bring care to whatever you do next.
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.