Word meanings
- swabhāva-jena
- born of one’s own material nature
- kaunteya
- Arjun, the son of Kunti
- nibaddhaḥ
- bound
- svena
- by your own
- karmaṇā
- actions
- kartum
- to do
- na
- not
- icchasi
- you wish
- yat
- which
- mohāt
- out of delusion
- kariṣyasi
- you will do
- avaśaḥ
- helplessly
- api
- even though
- tat
- that
Translations
O Arjuna, bound by your own Karma (action) born of your own nature, that which from delusion you wish not to do, even that you shall do helplessly.
O Arjuna! Your duty binds you. It has arisen from your own nature, and that which you do not desire to do in your delusion, you will do that very thing. You are helpless.
Being bound by your own duty, born of nature, O son of Kunti, you will, being helpless, verily do that which you do not wish to do, owing to indiscretion.
हे कुन्तीनन्दन ! अपने स्वभावजन्य कर्मसे बँधा हुआ तू मोहके कारण जो नहीं करना चाहता, उसको तू (क्षात्र-प्रकृतिके) परवश होकर करेगा।Commentary
Thou art endowed? O Arjuna, with martial alities, prowess, valour, skill, etc. Thou art, therefore, bound by these innate alities. Thou wilt be forced to fight by thy own nature. Nature will constrain thee to fight, much against thy will.