Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 5
भगवद् गीता अध्याय 3 श्लोक 5

न हि कश्िचत्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः।।3.5।।



English Translation - Swami Gambirananda
3.5  Because, no one ever remains even for a moment without doing work. For all are made to work under compulsion by the gunas born of Nature.


English Translation - Swami Sivananda
3.5 Verily none can ever remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is made to act helplessly indeed by the alities born of Nature.


English Translation - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
3.5. For, no one can ever remain, even for a moment, as a non-performer of action; because everyone,  being not master of himself,  is forced to perform action by the Strands born of the Prakrti (Material cause)


Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 3.5Na hi kashchit kshanamapi jaatu tishthatyakarmakrit;
Kaaryate hyavashah karma sarvah prakritijair gunaih.


Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 3.5na—not; hi—certainly; kaśhchit—anyone; kṣhaṇam—a moment; api—even; jātu—ever; tiṣhṭhati—can remain; akarma-kṛit—without action; kāryate—are performed; hi—certainly; avaśhaḥ—helpless; karma—work; sarvaḥ—all; prakṛiti-jaiḥ—born of material nature; guṇaiḥ—by the qualities