svabhāva-jena kaunteya
nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā
kartuṁ necchasi yan mohāt
kariṣyasy avaśo 'pi tat
nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā
kartuṁ necchasi yan mohāt
kariṣyasy avaśo 'pi tat
Synonyms
sva-bhāva-jena-by one's own nature; kaunteya-O son of Kuntī; nibaddhaḥ-conditioned; svena-by one's own; karmaṇā-activities; kartum-to do; na-not; icchasi-like; yat-that; mohāt-by illusion; kariṣyasi-you will act; avaśaḥ-imperceptibly; api-even; tat-that.
Translation
Under illusion you are now declining to act according to My direction. But, compelled by your own nature, you will act all the same, O son of Kuntī.
Purport
If one refuses to act under the direction of the Supreme Lord, then he is compelled to act by the modes in which he is situated. Everyone is under the spell of a particular combination of the modes of nature and is acting in that way. But anyone who voluntarily engages himself under the direction of the Supreme Lord becomes glorious.