Chapter 3 Overview
Verse 3.16
एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः। अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति।।3.16।।
evaṁ pravartitaṁ chakraṁ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati
Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 3, Verse 16
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Scripture Translation Room
Sanskrit to English Translation
Translator:
He who does not follow the wheel thus set in motion, who is of sinful life, rejoicing in the senses, lives in vain, O Arjuna.
A Reading - Rantideb
Why: whoever doesn't keep this cycle turning, of giving and receiving, lives in vain, a strong claim that a purely self-contained life misses the point.
In life: a life organized entirely around personal consumption, without contributing back to anything, tends to feel hollow even when materially comfortable.
Teaching: make sure some real portion of your effort goes toward something beyond your own consumption, that's the part that actually gives a life weight.
evamthus
pravartitamset into motion
chakramcycle
nanot
anuvartayatifollow
ihain this life
yaḥwho
agha-āyuḥsinful living
indriya-ārāmaḥfor the delight of their senses
moghamvainly
pārthaArjun, the son of Pritha
saḥthey
jīvatilive
Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)
Author:
3.16 एवम् thus? प्रवर्तितम् set revolving? चक्रम् wheel? न not? अनुवर्तयति follows? इह here? यः who? अघायुः living in sin? इन्द्रियारामः rejoicing in the senses? मोघम् in vain? पार्थ O Partha? सः he? जीवति lives.Commentary This is the wheel of action set in motion by the Creator on the basis of the Veda and sacrifice.He who does not follow the wheel by studying the Vedas and performing the sacrifices prescribed therein but who indulges only in sensual pleasures lives in vain. He is wasting his life. He is leading a worthless life indeed.One who does not live in accordance with this law and who is selfish commits sin. He violates the law of the Creator and that is the worst sin.