न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् | कार्यते ह्यवश: कर्म सर्व: प्रकृतिजैर्गुणै: || 5|| |
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“No one can remain without action even for a moment. Helpless, all beings act by the qualities born of Nature”
Commentary
From the very first breath, every form of life is propelled into the river of activities by Mother Nature (Prakriti). Any person who remains stagnant risks being swept away or dragged backward by the currents of life. Even if one perceives themselves as lazy, moody, or depressed, believing they are not working or unable to work, they are still engaged in activity through the production of thoughts and feelings. These mental actions may occur consciously or subconsciously, but one cannot evade them. No individual can attain a state of perfect inactivity while still active, either physically or mentally.
Every person is inevitably compelled to work due to the effects of the three gunās (Saatvic, Rajasic, Tamasic) inherent in Nature since its creation by God. Saatvic qualities inspire actions performed with a calm, noble heart, resulting in peace and wisdom. Rajasic qualities drive individuals with greed and attachment to pursue worldly possessions for perceived security, leading to impatience, fear, and anxiety. Tamasic qualities prompt individuals to engage in societal evils, resulting in suffering and trauma. Each person, knowingly or unknowingly, operates within a blend of these qualities.
The three gunās continually influence the 24 attributes of Nature, including the five karmendriyās (organs of action), five gnyanendriyās (senses), five vital currents in the body (prāna, āpāna, samāna, vyāna, udāna), and the five elemental components of the body (earth, water, fire, air, ether), along with the remaining four attributes – Manas (sensory perceptions), Buddhi (intellect), Ahankāra (ego), and Chitthā (feelings). These four attributes form the opening line of Nirvana Shatakam, ‘Mano Budhyahankāra Chithā,’ by Sri Adi Sankarācharya.
Therefore, the essence of man lies in the interplay of the three gunās and the twenty-four attributes of Nature. This interplay persists for a negligible duration of man’s life in comparison to the lifespan of the universe before the play of Human Being concludes in the Theater of Life. The wise, however, find refuge on the shores of Truth and never feel helpless again.
William Shakespeare in ‘As you like it’ :-
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;