स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा।कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत् ॥

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

• 18.56Having taken refuge in Me and doing all actions, by My grace he obtains the eternal, indestructible state of being.
• 18.57Mentally renouncing all actions in Me, having Me as the highest goal, and resorting to the yoga of discrimination, do thou ever fix thy mind on Me.
• 18.58Fixing your mind on Me, you shall, by My grace, overcome all obstacles; but if you will not hear Me due to egoism, you shall perish.
• 18.59If, filled with egoism, thou thinkest, "I will not fight," then thy resolve is vain; nature will compel thee.

• 18.60O Arjuna, bound by your own Karma (action) born of your own nature, that which from delusion you wish not to do, even that you shall do helplessly.

• 18.61The Lord dwells in the hearts of all beings, O Arjuna, causing all beings, by His illusory power, to revolve as if mounted on a machine.
• 18.62Fly to Him for refuge with all your being, O Arjuna; by His grace you will obtain supreme peace and the eternal abode.
• 18.63Thus, wisdom more secret than secrecy itself has been declared to you by me. Reflect on it fully, then act as you wish.
• 18.64Hear again My supreme word, most secret of all; for you are dearly beloved of Me, I will tell you what is good.
• 18.65Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice to Me, bow down to Me. You will come to Me; I truly promise you this, for you are dear to Me.
• 18.66Abandon all duties and take refuge in Me alone; I will liberate you from all sins; do not grieve.

swabhāva-jena

born of one’s own material nature

kaunteya

Arjun, the son of Kunti

nibaddhaḥ

bound

svena

by your own

karmaṇā

actions

kartum

to do

na

not

ichchhasi

you wish

yat

which

mohāt

out of delusion

kariṣhyasi

you will do

avaśhaḥ

helplessly

api

even though

tat

that