3.16 He who does not follow here the wheel thus set revolving, who is of sinful life, rejoicing in the senses, he lives in vain, O Arjuna.

3.16 Evam etc. On the other hand, he, who does not accept as stated above, is full of sins. For, he enjoys only in the sense-organs and not in the Self.

**3.16** O Partha, that man who in this world does not follow the thus traditionally established cycle of creation, he, being one who revels in pleasures through the senses, lives a life of sin (aghāyuḥ) and dwells in the world in vain. **Commentary:** Explanation—'Partha'—Concluding the topic begun from the ninth verse, the Lord here addresses Arjuna as 'Partha', as if saying: You are the son of that same Prithā (Kunti) who, enduring lifelong hardships, still performed her duty. Therefore, even one like you should not neglect your duty. That war which you are calling a terrible action is not a terrible action for you; rather, it is a yajña (duty). To perform it is to act in accordance with the cycle of creation, and to not perform it is to act contrary to it. 'He who does not follow this revolving wheel here'—Just as when even a small part of a chariot wheel breaks, a jolt is felt by all parts of the chariot, the charioteer, and the rider seated upon it, similarly, the man who does not act according to the cycle of creation described in the fourteenth and fifteenth verses creates an obstacle in the functioning of the collective creation. The world and the individual are not two separate (alien) entities. Just as there is an intimate relationship between the body and its limbs, and between the limbs and the body, so too is there an intimate relationship between the world and the individual, and between the individual and the world. When an individual, renouncing desire, attachment, possessiveness, and egoism, performs his duty, then automatically happiness reaches the entire creation. 'Indriyārāmaḥ'—The man who, imbued with desire, attachment, possessiveness, etc., enjoys pleasures through the senses is described here as one who revels in pleasures. Such a man is lower than an animal, because an animal does not commit new sins; rather, it experiences the fruit of sins committed previously and moves towards purity. But the sense-indulgent man, committing new sins again and again, moves towards degradation and, simultaneously, by creating an obstacle in the cycle of creation, causes sorrow to the entire creation. 'Aghāyuḥ'—The lifespan, the very life, of a man who does not act according to the cycle of creation is merely sinful. The reason is that a man who enjoys with the intellect of enjoyment through the senses cannot avoid the sin which is violence. Through a selfish, arrogant man desirous of enjoyment and accumulation, harm comes to others; therefore, such a man's life becomes sinful. Goswami Shri Tulsidasji says: *One who is hostile to others, covets others' wives, others' wealth, and slanders others—such men, lower than humans, bear a body made of sin.* 'He lives in vain, O Partha'—While censuring or reprimanding in refined language the man who does not perform his duty, the Lord says that such a man lives in the world in vain, meaning it would be better if he died. The implication is that if he does not perform his duty and bring happiness to creation, then at the very least he should not cause sorrow. Just as when the residents of Ayodhya came to Chitrakuta during Lord Shri Rama's exile, the tribal people like Kol, Kirāt, Bhil, etc., said to them: 'The fact that we do not steal your clothes and utensils is our very great service.' Similarly, for a man who does not perform his duty, if he at least does not create an obstacle in the cycle of creation, that itself is his service. For the man who does not act according to the cycle of creation, the Lord first said 'stenah eva saḥ' (3.12)—he is verily a thief, and 'bhuñjate te tv agham' (3.13)—they verily eat sin, and now in this verse, saying 'aghāyur indriyārāmaḥ'—he is of sinful life and a sense-indulgent one—He declares even his living to be in vain. Goswami Tulsidasji Maharaj has also said: *Like fire in embers, anger in the buffalo-lord, sin in the wicked, wealth in the miser, and benefit for all in the sun—so is sleeping well in Kumbhakarna.* **Connection:** In the previous verse, the man who does not perform his duty in order to sever his connection with the world was reprimanded. But now, the Lord describes in the next two verses the state of that great man who, having performed his duty, has severed his connection with the world.