Вірш 18.5918.118.218.318.418.518.618.718.818.918.1018.1118.1218.1318.1418.1518.1618.1718.1818.1918.2018.2118.2218.2318.2418.2518.2618.2718.2818.2918.3018.3118.3218.3318.3418.3518.3618.3718.3818.3918.4018.4118.4218.4318.4418.4518.4618.4718.4818.4918.5018.5118.5218.5318.5418.5518.5618.5718.5818.5918.6018.6118.6218.6318.6418.6518.6618.6718.6818.6918.7018.7118.7218.7318.7418.7518.7618.7718.78

If, filled with egoism, thou thinkest: "I will not fight", vain is this, thy resolve; Nature will compel thee.

If, relying on ego, you think, I will not fight, this resolve of yours is in vain; your own nature will compel you.

Krishna confronts Arjuna's original refusal. If, out of ego, he decides not to fight, his resolve is false, because his own nature (prakṛti) will drive him to act. The verse is psychological as much as moral. Arjuna's warrior nature will not stay still; refusal born of temporary confusion cannot hold against his deeper character. Krishna is telling him that the real question is not whether he will act, but whether he will act with understanding.