Complete learning edition. The Sanskrit source remains separate from attributed word meanings, translation, explanation and commentary witnesses. Diagrams and memory aids are study tools, not replacements for the source text.
यदहङ्कारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे।मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति।।18.59।।
yad ahankāram āśhritya na yotsya iti manyase mithyaiṣha vyavasāyas te prakṛitis tvāṁ niyokṣhyati
If you in your vanity think of avoiding this fight, your will shall not be fulfilled, for Nature herself will compel you.
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
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Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| yat | if |
| ahankāram | motivated by pride |
| āśhritya | taking shelter |
| na yotsye | I shall not fight |
| iti | thus |
| manyase | you think |
| mithyā eṣhaḥ | this is all false |
| vyavasāyaḥ | determination |
| te | your |
| prakṛitiḥ | material nature |
| tvām | you |
| niyokṣhyati | will engage |
This strong determination of thy mind will be rendered utterly futile by thy inner nature thy nature will constrain thee thy nature as a warrior will compel thee to fight. It is a mere illusion to say that thou art Arjuna, that these are thy relatives and that to kill them will be a sin.
Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Follow the great recapitulation through renunciation, action, knowledge, duty, devotion, refuge and Sañjaya’s conclusion.
Three named reading witnesses
Śaṅkara edition witness
Swami GambiranandaThough you think 'I shall not fight', relying on egotism, this determination of yours is vain. Your nature will impel you!
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaIf, in your self-conceit, you think, 'I will not fight,' your resolve is futile. Nature will compel you.
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaThis strong determination of thy mind will be rendered utterly futile by thy inner nature thy nature will constrain thee thy nature as a warrior will compel thee to fight. It is a mere illusion to say that thou art Arjuna, that these are thy relatives and that to kill them will be a sin.
These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.
Meaning map
Follow the thought
- 1
If you in your vanity think of avoiding this fight, your will shall not be fulfilled, for Nature herself will compel you
- 2
yat: if
- 3
mithyā eṣhaḥ: this is all false
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Follow the great recapitulation through renunciation, action, knowledge, duty, devotion, refuge and Sañjaya’s conclusion.
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