18.59 yadhyahankAram ASrithya

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Chapter 18

<< Chapter 18 Verse 58

SlOkam – Original

yadhyahankAram ASrithya na yOthsya ithi manyasE |
mithyaisha vyavasAyas thE prakruthis thvAm niyOkshyathi ||

word-by-word meaning

ahankAram ASrithya – Considering “I can myself determine good and bad” (foregoing my ordainment)
na yOthsyE ithi – saying “I won’t fight”
yadhi manyasE – if you think
Esha: thE vyavasAya: – this resolve in you
mithyA – will also become false;

(because)
prakruthi: – your body which is an effect of primordial matter
thvAm – you
niyOshyathi – will lead you to fight.

Simple Translation

If you think “I won’t fight”, considering “I can myself determine good and bad” (foregoing my ordainment), this resolve in you will also become false; your body which is an effect of primordial matter will lead you to fight [anyway].

Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam

‘If by embracing egotism, you resolve: ‘I
will not fight,’ that resolve of yours shall be vain; (for) nature will impel you.’

Egotism (ahaṅkāra)=The notion of self-ness or freedom in deciding for oneself what is good and what is bad.

If by assuming this independence, you should determine to yourself: ‘I will not fight’, in disregard of My Mandate (to the contrary), your independent resolve shall prove to be a failure, inasmuch as your nature (prakṛiti) will compel you to the combat; for your nature will govern you usurping My place, because you own Me not.

The same (subject) is amplified:

>> Chapter 18 Verse 60

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