क्रियापरास्तावदलं चक्रावर्तिभिरावृताः । भ्रमन्तीह जना यावन्न पश्यन्ति परं पदम् ॥ ३३ ॥
kriyāparāstāvadalaṁ cakrāvartibhirāvṛtāḥ | bhramantīha janā yāvanna paśyanti paraṁ padam || 33 ||
Translation
People given over to action wander here, wrapped in forces that spin them like a wheel, until they see the supreme state.
Word by word
- kriyāparās
- (kriyāparāḥ) given over to action
- tāvad
- (tāvat) so long
- alaṁ
- fully
- cakra
- like a wheel
- āvartibhir
- (āvartibhiḥ) by forces that spin
- āvṛtāḥ
- wrapped
- bhramanti
- wander
- iha
- here
- janā
- (janāḥ) people
- yāvan
- (yāvat) until
- na
- not
- paśyanti
- they see
- paraṁ
- the supreme
- padam
- state
Meaning
Cakrāvartin, turning as a wheel turns. The commentary identifies these as attachment, aversion and the like, and cites the Upaniṣad on those who dwell in ignorance and think themselves wise, like the blind led by the blind (Kaṭha 1.2.5). The verse does not forbid action. The word yāvat, until, shows that the error lies in taking action for the end. Such wandering can look from the inside like great activity and progress.