Meaning
Supreme God Krishna spoke
Even though you have chosen not to engage in battle due to your ego's influence, your thinking is flawed, and your inherent warrior nature as a Kshatriya will inevitably push you into the war. (18:59)
Sanskrit
श्रीभगवान् उवाच
यदहंकारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे ।
मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति॥
Word-by-word
यत् अहङ्कारम्-आश्रित्य 'न योत्स्ये' इति मन्यसे,
मिथ्या एषः व्यवसायः ते, प्रकृतिः त्वाम् नि-योक्ष्यति।
Commentary
Arjuna’s initial reluctance to fight in the war was not driven primarily by ego or arrogance; he expressed his unwillingness to engage in battle due to a complex mix of emotions, including fear of sin, compassion, and a sense of righteousness. In the eleventh chapter, when Bhagawān Krishna revealed His Cosmic Form to Arjuna, the latter witnessed the inevitability of the destruction of the enemy warriors. The Lord made it clear that regardless of whether Arjuna participated in the battle or not, these warriors were already destined to be defeated and killed as a part of God’s divine plan.
In this context, when Arjuna still hesitated to participate in the battle after witnessing the divine vision and understanding God’s will, it could be interpreted as a lingering sense of ego or individuality (ahankāra) within him.