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
- manuṣyāḥ
- all men
- pārtha
- Arjun, the son of Pritha
- sarvaśaḥ
- in all respects
Translations
For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way follow my path, O Arjuna.
Were I not to act without ceasing, O prince, people would be inclined to do the same.
For, O Partha, if at any time I do not continue vigilantly in action, people will follow My path in every way.
।।3.23 -- 3.24।। हे पार्थ! अगर मैं किसी समय सावधान होकर कर्तव्यकर्म न करूँ तो बड़ी हानि हो जाय; क्योंकि मनुष्य सब प्रकारसे मेरे ही मार्गका अनुसरण करते हैं। यदि मैं कर्म न करूँ, तो ये सब मनुष्य नष्ट-भ्रष्ट हो जायँ और मैं वर्णसंकरताको करनेवाला होऊँ तथा इस समस्त प्रजाको नष्ट करनेवाला बनूँ।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.