एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः | अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति || १६ ||
evaṁ pravartitaṁ cakraṁ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati
evam—thus; pravartitam—established; cakram—cycle; na—does not; anuvartayati—follow; iha—in this life; yaḥ—one who; agha-āyuḥ—whose life is full of sins; indriya-ārāmaḥ—who takes pleasure in the senses; mogham—in vain; pārtha—O son of Pritha; saḥ—he; jīvati—lives.
“O Partha, one who does not follow the revolving wheel of this sacrifice established by the Vedas lives a life of sin, indulging the senses in vain.”
The wheel of creation (chakra) turns through sacrifice, and one who refuses to participate — selfishly consuming without contributing — obstructs the divine plan. Such a person degrades themselves through sense-indulgence and lives a purposeless life. The Vaishnava tradition adds: the highest participation in this wheel is to dedicate all action to Vishnu/Krishna, which simultaneously fulfils one's social, cosmic, and spiritual obligations.
Reflect honestly on whether your life adds to or subtracts from the well-being of those around you. A life consumed entirely by personal pleasure and convenience, without contribution to others, is described here as 'living in vain.' Identify at least one way your skills or resources can serve a purpose larger than personal comfort.