📿 Shloka Collection

Evam Pravartitam Chakram

Gita 3.16 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3 — Karma Yoga
एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः ।
अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति ॥
Evam pravartitam chakram nanuvartayatiha yah
Aghayur indriyaramo mogham Partha sa jivati
एवम्
thus
प्रवर्तितम् चक्रम्
the wheel set in motion
न अनुवर्तयति
does not follow
इह
in this world
यः
who
अघायुः
living in sin
इन्द्रियारामः
reveling in the senses
मोघम्
in vain
पार्थ
O Partha (Arjuna)
सः जीवति
that person lives

After describing the grand yajna-cycle, Krishna delivers a stern verdict. The person who does not participate in this cycle — who only takes and never gives, who lives purely for sense pleasure — that person's life is wasted. Aghayuh, a life steeped in sin. Indriyaramah, someone who treats the senses as the only playground.

The words are hard, but the truth holds. When a person lives only for themselves, ignoring the web of mutual duty that sustains everyone, their life loses meaning. They may eat and sleep and enjoy, but they contribute nothing. And a life of pure consumption without contribution is, in the Gita's view, an empty one.

This is the conclusion of the yajna-cycle teaching from 3.10 to 3.15. Stepping outside this cycle renders a life purposeless.

Verse 3.17 immediately introduces the one exception: the person who has attained perfect self-knowledge. For that soul, different rules apply.

Chapter 3 · 16 / 43
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