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Chapter 3: Karma-yoga

Bg 3.33
TEXT 33
sadrsam cestate svasyah
prakrter jnanavan api
prakrtim yanti bhutani
nigrahah kim karisyati
SYNONYMS
sadåçam—accordingly; ceñöate—tries; svasyäù—in one's own nature; prakåteù—modes; jïänavän—the learned; api—although; prakåtim—nature; yänti—undergo; bhütäni—all living entities; nigrahaù—suppression; kim—what; kariñyati—can do.
TRANSLATION
Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows his nature. What can repression accomplish?
PURPORT
Unless one is situated on the transcendental platform of Kåñëa consciousness, he cannot get free from the influence of the modes of material nature, as it is confirmed by the Lord in the Seventh Chapter (7.14). Therefore, even for the most highly educated person on the mundane plane, it is impossible to get out of the entanglement of mäyä simply by theoretical knowledge, or by separating the soul from the body. There are many so-called spiritualists who outwardly pose to be advanced in the science, but inwardly or privately are completely under the particular modes of nature which they are unable to surpass. Academically, one may be very learned, but because of his long association with material nature, he is in bondage. Kåñëa consciousness helps one to get out of the material entanglement, even though one may be engaged in his prescribed duties. Therefore, without being fully in Kåñëa consciousness, no one should suddenly give up his prescribed duties and become a so-called yogé or transcendentalist artificially. It is better to be situated in one's position and to try to attain Kåñëa consciousness under superior training. Thus one may be freed from the clutches of mäyä.

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Copyright (c) 1972 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada