Bhagavad Gita BG 18.59
Chapter 18, Verse 59 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यदहङ्कारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे । मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति ॥
yad ahankaram ashritya na yotsya iti manyase mithyaisha vyavasayas te Prakritistvam niyokshyati
Meaning
If, relying on ego, you think 'I will not fight' — that resolve of yours is in vain. Your own nature will compel you.
Understanding
The logic of svabhava: yad ahankaram ashritya 'na yotsye' iti manyase (if, relying on ahankara/ego, you think 'I will not fight'). Mithyaisha vyavasayas te (that resolve of yours is mithya — false, in vain). PrakrTis tvam niyokshyati (your own nature/Prakriti will compel you). The remarkable teaching: even the decision NOT to fight is ego-based. Arjuna's svabhava is kshatriya — the heroic, protecting, warrior-function. This svabhava will emerge regardless of Arjuna's ego-based refusal. The irony: the ego that refuses is itself part of Prakriti and will be overridden by the deeper natural orientation.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| आश्रित्य | ashritya | relying on, taking shelter in |
| मिथ्या | mithya | false, in vain, illusory |
| व्यवसायः | vyavasayah | resolve, determination (the same word used for sattvic resolve in Ch2) |
| नियोक्ष्यति | niyokshyati | will compel, will engage, will harness (yoking) |
| यत् | yat | if |
| अहंकारम् | ahaṅkāram | pride, false ego |
| आश्रित्य | āśritya | taking refuge in |
| न | na yotsye iti | "I will not fight" |
| मन्यसे | manyase | you think |
| मिथ्या | mithyā | false, vain |
| एषः | eṣaḥ | this |
| व्यवसायः | vyavasāyaḥ | resolve, decision |
| ते | te | your |
| प्रकृतिः | prakṛtiḥ | your nature |
| त्वाम् | tvām | you |
| नियोक्ष्यति | niyokṣyati | will compel |