arjuna uväca
atha kena prayukto 'yaà
päpaà carati püruñaù
anicchann api värñëeya
baläd iva niyojitaù
SYNONYMS
arjunaù uväca-Arjuna said; atha-then; kena-by what; prayuktaù-impelled;
ayam-one; päpam-sins; carati-does; püruñaù-a man; anicchan-without
desiring; api-although; värñëeya-O descendant of Våñëi; balät-by
force; iva-as if; niyojitaù-engaged.
TRANSLATION
Arjuna said: O descendant of Våñëi, by what is one impelled to sinful acts, even
unwillingly, as if engaged by force?
PURPORT
A living entity, as part and parcel of the Supreme, is originally spiritual, pure, and
free from all material contaminations. Therefore, by nature he is not subject to the sins
of the material world. But when he is in contact with the material nature, he acts in many
sinful ways without hesitation, and sometimes even against his will. As such, Arjuna's
question to Kåñëa is very sanguine, as to the perverted nature of the living entities.
Although the living entity sometimes does not want to act in sin, he is still forced to
act. Sinful actions are not, however, impelled by the Supersoul within, but are due to
another cause, as the Lord explains in the next verse.