O Partha, the one who does not follow this cycle set in motion here lives in vain, delighting only in the senses and living a life of wrongdoing.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.16
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पार्थ जो मनुष्य इस लोकमें इस प्रकार परम्परासे प्रचलित सृष्टिचक्रके अनुसार नहीं चलता, वह इन्द्रियोंके द्वारा भोगोंमें रमण करनेवाला अघायु पापमय जीवन बितानेवाला मनुष्य संसारमें व्यर्थ ही जीता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
एवम्thusप्रवर्तितम्set in motionचक्रम्cycleनnotअनुवर्तयतिfollowsइहhereयःwhoअघायुःone whose life is tainted by wrongdoingइन्द्रियारामःdelighting in the sensesमोघम्in vainपार्थO Parthaसःheजीवतिlives
Read literallythus · set in motion · cycle · not · follows · here · who · one whose life is tainted by wrongdoing · delighting in the senses · in vain · O Partha · he · lives
Understanding the verse
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Krishna tells Partha that one who ignores the turning wheel of sacrifice lives in vain.
A person who ignores the world’s proper cycle of action and only chases pleasure ends up living a wasted life.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna explains how life itself depends on a shared cycle of action, sacrifice, and responsibility. This verse warns that refusing that order for private pleasure makes a person's life hollow.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A young man spends every weekend on parties and shopping and never helps at home. After a year he feels hollow. Krishna would say he has dropped out of the cycle of giving back that keeps a life full.
The takeaway
“A life spent on pleasure alone, giving nothing back, feels empty.”
A person who ignores the world’s proper cycle of action and only chases pleasure ends up living a wasted life.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.16?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 3.16?
Verse 16 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 3.16 matter today?
A young man spends every weekend on parties and shopping and never helps at home. After a year he feels hollow. Krishna would say he has dropped out of the cycle of giving back that keeps a life full.
Krishna tells Partha that one who ignores the turning wheel of sacrifice lives in vain.
What this verse means
A person who ignores the world’s proper cycle of action and only chases pleasure ends up living a wasted life.
Context & commentary
Krishna explains how life itself depends on a shared cycle of action, sacrifice, and responsibility. This verse warns that refusing that order for private pleasure makes a person's life hollow.
What it looks like today
A young man spends every weekend on parties and shopping and never helps at home. After a year he feels hollow. Krishna would say he has dropped out of the cycle of giving back that keeps a life full.
“A life spent on pleasure alone, giving nothing back, feels empty.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), yajna (32 verses), dharma (14 verses)