On Bhagavad Gita: Even the wise ones behave according to their Prakriti

The following excerpt is from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि।

प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति।। 3.33 ।।

sadṛiśhaṁ cheṣhṭate svasyāḥ prakṛiter jñānavān api

prakṛitiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣhyati

Even a man of wisdom behaves according to his own nature. Being follows by their nature. What can restraint do?

~ Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 33

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एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना।

जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम्।। 3.43 ।।

evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā sanstabhyātmānam ātmanā

jahi śhatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam

Thus knowing Him, Who is superior to the intellect and restraining the self by the Self, slay thou, O mighty-armed Arjuna, the enemy in the form of desire, hard to conquer.

~ Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 43

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Question (Q): In verse 33, it is said, “What can restraint do?” and in verse 43, it is said, “Restraint lower self by the higher Self.” They seem to contradict each other. Please help me understand the right place of restraint in one’s life, and what comes under its purview.

Acharya Prashant (AP): No, the word is not really ‘restraint’ in verse 33. What is implied is: all mortal beings are following the dictates of Prakriti, and the dictates of Prakriti cannot be disobeyed as far as the physical body is concerned. Be it an ignorant man or a realized man, Prakriti will operate the way…