स्वभाव

Svabhāva (स्वभाव) means a person's own natural make-up: the tendency with which one enters life and which shows again and again in one's work.

In 3.33 the Gita says even the wise act in keeping with their own nature, so mere suppression achieves little. In chapter 18 actions are said to be distributed according to the guṇas born of one's nature (18.41), and 18.47 calls work "ordained by nature" free of fault.

Common misreading: svabhāva does not mean "I am just like this". Calling anger, laziness or procrastination "my nature" so as to shelter them is not what the Gita intends. Verse 3.34 says plainly that one should not come under the sway of attraction and aversion. Nature is what makes work skilful and useful, not the swings of mood.

For more, see the topic One's Own Duty.