Bhagavad Gita 3.23 meaningWhy action matters
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“If I stopped, everyone would copy me.”
What it means
“If I ever stopped working, people everywhere would follow my example.”
The original Sanskrit
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः । मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥
yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ
Translations
Literal translation
For, O Partha, if at any time I do not continue vigilantly in action, men will follow My path in ever way.
Swami Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
यदि मैं सावधान हुआ (अतन्द्रित:) कदाचित कर्म में न लगा रहूँ तो, हे पार्थ ! सब प्रकार से मनुष्य मेरे मार्ग (र्वत्म) का अनुसरण करेंगे।
Swami Tejomayananda
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Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
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Keep reading · 3.24“If I stopped acting, the worlds would fall apart. I would be the cause of chaos and the ruin of all beings.”