एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः। अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति।।3.16।।
evam pravartitaṃ cakraṃ nānuvartayati iha yaḥ | aghāyur indriyārāmaḥ moghaṃ pārthaḥ sa jīvati ||
Translation
O Partha, those who do not follow the cycle of sacrifice established by the Vedas live a sinful life, indulging only in sense‑gratification; indeed, their existence is futile.
Word Meanings
evam — thus; pravartitam — established by the Vedas; cakram — cycle; na — does not; anuvartayati — adopt; iha — in this life; yaḥ — one who; aghāyur — whose life is full of sins; indriya‑ārāmaḥ — satisfied in sense gratification; mogham — uselessly; pārtha — O son of Pṛthā (Arjuna); saḥ — he; jīvati — lives.
Understanding the Verse
In this verse, Krishna points out a major moral failure that some individuals exhibit on the battlefield of life. The word evam (thus) signals that what follows is a continuation of the teaching about the importance of the yajña (sacrifice) described in the previous verses. The phrase pravartitaṃ cakraṃ refers to the perpetual wheel of action‑and‑reaction that the Vedas prescribe as the proper mode of living. By performing one's duty as a sacrifice, an individual aligns himself with the cosmic order.
Krishna then says nānu vartayati iha yaḥ – ‘who does not maintain this wheel in this life.’ A person who ignores the prescribed ritual of self‑less action becomes a aghāyur, one whose life is tainted by sin. The root agh‑ denotes injury; thus a life lived with injury to dharma is, by definition, a sinful existence. Such a person finds his happiness in the fleeting pleasures of the senses, expressed by indriya‑ārāmaḥ. This fascination with the five senses creates an illusion of contentment but is ultimately hollow.
The term moghaṃ intensifies the criticism: it means ‘uselessly, in vain.’ The person who pursues sense‑gratification without the balancing force of sacrifice lives like a sailboat drifting aimlessly on a stormy sea. Though the wind (desire) may fill the sails, there is no destination, no purpose. Krishna addresses Arjuna directly with pārthaḥ, reminding him that even a noble warrior can fall into this trap if he neglects the higher principle of self‑less action.
Krishna’s admonition ties back to the core doctrine of Karma‑yoga: action performed without attachment to its fruits, offered as a sacrifice to the Divine, purifies the mind and leads to liberation. When one abandons this path, the senses become the master, and the individual merely becomes a servant of fleeting cravings. The verse thus serves both as a warning and an invitation. It warns that living solely for sensory pleasure leads to a life that is ultimately meaningless, while simultaneously inviting the seeker to re‑engage with the Vedic principle of sacrificial duty. By doing so, the wheel of dharmic action keeps turning, ensuring that the individual’s life contributes to cosmic harmony rather than to personal, short‑lived indulgence.
In the broader context of Chapter 3, this verse underscores the necessity of integrating action with devotion. It reaffirms that true freedom does not arise from renouncing action altogether, but from performing action in the spirit of sacrifice. This perspective transforms the battlefield of Kurukshetra into a symbolic arena where every human being can practice self‑less duty, thereby transcending the cycle of sin and attaining lasting spiritual fulfillment.
