Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 33
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि | प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ||
sadṛśaṁ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛter jñānavān api prakṛtiṁ yānti bhūtāni igrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati
Even the wise act according to their own nature; all beings follow their nature. What will restraint accomplish?
After addressing faith versus criticism, Krishna reveals a profound truth: 'Sadṛśaṁ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛter jñānavān api'—even the wise act according to their own nature (prakṛti). Everyone does. 'Prakṛtiṁ yānti bhūtāni'—all beings follow their nature. 'Nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati'—what will suppression accomplish? Nothing. You can't fight your core nature—it will always reassert itself. The teaching: stop wasting energy fighting who you are. Work with your prakṛti, channel it toward your goals. This prepares for verse 3.35's famous truth: better your own dharma done imperfectly than another's done perfectly.