सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि | प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ||३-३३||
sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛterjñānavānapi . prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ||3-33||
Chapter 3 · Verse 33
Karma Yoga
कर्मयोग
In plain words
You must understand your own natural tendencies rather than trying to forcefully suppress them. Even those with jnana, or spiritual wisdom, act according to their inner nature. Instead of violent self-repression, focus on performing your dharma, your righteous duty, while gradually mastering your likes and dislikes so that nature no longer controls you.
Translation
3.33 Even the man of knowledge acts according to his nature; all beings follow their nature. What will repression do?
Meaning
He who reads this verse will come to the conclusion that there is no scope for mans personal exertion. It is not so. Read the following verse. It clearly indicates that man can coner Nature if he rises above the sway of RagaDvesha (love and hatred). The passionate and ignorant man only comes under the sway of his natural propensities and his lower nature. He cannot have any restraint over the senses and the two currents of likes and dislikes. The seeker after Truth who is endowed with the four means and who is constantly practising meditation can easily control Nature. (Cf. II.60V.14XVIII.59).
Word by word
सदृशम् in accordance चेष्टते acts स्वस्याः of his own प्रकृतेः of nature ज्ञानवान् a wise man अपि even प्रकृतिम् to nature यान्ति follow भूतानि beings निग्रहः restraint किम् what करिष्यति will do.