Chapter 3 · Verse 23

Path of Selfless Service

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः। मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

yadi hyahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ

Word Meanings

yadi — if; hi — certainly; aham — I; na — not; varteyam — thus engage; jātu — ever; karmaṇi — in the performance of prescribed duties; atandritaḥ — carefully; mama — my; vartma — path; anuvartante — follow; manuṣhyāḥ — all men; pārtha — Arjun, the son of Pritha; sarvaśhaḥ — in all respects

Language:

Translation

For if I ever ceased to engage tirelessly in action, O Arjuna, all people would follow my path in every way.

Commentary

यदि if? हि surely? अहम् I? न not? वर्तेयम् engage Myself in action? जातु ever? कर्मणि in action? अतन्द्रितः unwearied? मम My? वर्त्म path? अनुवर्तन्ते follow? मनुष्याः men? पार्थ O Partha? सर्वशः in every way.Commentary If I remain inactive? people also will imitate Me and keep iet. They will all become Tamasic and pass into a state of inertia.