Chapter VIII · Śloka 19
भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते ।
रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे ॥
रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे ॥
bhūta-grāmaḥ sa evāyaṃ bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate |
rātry-āgame'vaśaḥ pārtha prabhavaty ahar-āgame ||
rātry-āgame'vaśaḥ pārtha prabhavaty ahar-āgame ||
This very same multitude of beings, arising again and again, dissolves helplessly at the coming of night, O Pārtha, and comes forth at the coming of day.
The word avaśaḥ — helplessly, without choice — is telling: bound souls are swept along by cosmic tides they cannot resist. Only liberation from this cycle, not a better position within it, is the true goal.