The Gita according to Gandhi 237

The Gita according to Gandhi -Mahadev Desai

DISCOURCE 3 31. Those who always act according to the rule I have here laid down, in faith and without cavilling—they too are released from the bondage of their actions. 32. But those who cavil at the rule and refuse to conform to it are fools, dead to all knowledge; know that they are lost. 33. Even a man of knowledge acts according to his nature; all creatures follow their nature; what then will constraint avail? This does not run counter to the teaching in II. 61 and II. 68. Self- restraint is the means of salvation (VI. 35; XIII. 7). Man's energies should be bent towards achieving complete self-restraint until the end of his days. But if he does not succeed, neither will constraint help him. The shloka does not rule out restraint but explains that nature prevails.