Chapter 3 Overview
Verse 3.23
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः। मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः।।3.23।।
yadi hyahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ
Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 3, Verse 23
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Scripture Translation Room
Sanskrit to English Translation
Translator:
For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way follow my path, O Arjuna.
A Reading - Rantideb
Why: if Krishna failed to act vigilantly, people would follow that exact path, reinforcing how much modeling matters over instruction.
In life: consistency in your own visible effort does more to keep a team, family, or community engaged than any speech about effort would.
Teaching: when you want others to stay engaged or disciplined, check your own visible follow-through first.
yadiif
hicertainly
ahamI
nanot
varteyamthus engage
jātuever
karmaṇiin the performance of prescribed duties
atandritaḥcarefully
mamamy
vartmapath
anuvartantefollow
manuṣhyāḥall men
pārthaArjun, the son of Pritha
sarvaśhaḥin all respects
Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)
Author:
3.23 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.