Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18 Verse 60 Meaning
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.
BG 18.60
स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा।कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत्
swbhāva-jena kaunteya nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā kartuṁ nechchhasi yan mohāt kariṣhyasy avaśho ’pi tat
Meaning
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.
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What Does Bhagavad Gita 18.60 Mean?
At this point in Moksha Sanyasa Yoga, Krishna deepens His teaching on liberation. 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. The verse advances the dialogue by connecting abstract principle to the concrete situation Arjuna faces. Ramanuja's commentary highlights how this verse reinforces the accessibility of the Gita's path.
The teaching on liberation is presented not as an elite attainment but as a practical orientation available to anyone willing to examine their motivations and actions honestly. The practical invitation is to hold this verse as a mirror. Where in your life does the principle of liberation feel most challenging? That is precisely where the teaching has the most to offer.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 18.60?
The conclusion of the Gita, summarizing all paths and encouraging Arjuna to surrender to God.
Key themes in this chapter include Liberation, Surrender, Duty, Grace.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 18.60 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with liberation
- •When practicing surrender amid uncertainty
- •When applying duty to real-life choices
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Related Verses
BG 18.2
The Blessed Lord said, "The sages understand sannyasa to be the renunciation of action with desire; the wise declare the abandonment of the fruits of all actions to be tyaga."
BG 18.5
Acts of sacrifice, gift, and austerity should not be abandoned, but should be performed; for sacrifice, gift, and austerity are the purifiers of the wise.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
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