Illustration for Bhagavad Gita chapter 3 verse 5
Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga

Action Is Unavoidable · Built Into Existence

न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् । कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ।।5।।

na hi kaścit kṣaṇam api jātu tiṣṭhaty akarma-kṛt kāryate hy avaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛti-jair guṇaiḥ

Meaning

"No one can remain without action even for a moment; everyone is inevitably driven to act by the qualities born of material nature."

Explanation

Krishna points out a simple, unavoidable truth: action is built into existence itself.

Today's Life Lesson

Since you'll act regardless, choose today to act with awareness rather than resist acting at all.

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