Word meanings
- utsīdeyuḥ
- would perish
- ime
- all these
- lokāḥ
- worlds
- na
- not
- kuryām
- I perform
- karma
- prescribed duties
- cet
- if
- aham
- I
- sankarasya
- of uncultured population
- ca
- and
- kartā
- responsible
- syām
- would be
- upahanyām
- would destroy
- imāḥ
- all these
- prajāḥ
- living entities
Translations
These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion of castes and destruction of these beings.
And if I were to refrain from action, the human race would be ruined; I would lead the world to chaos, and destruction would follow.
These worlds would be ruined if I did not perform action. And I shall become the agent of intermingling (of castes), and shall be destroying these beings.
।।3.23 -- 3.24।। हे पार्थ ! अगर मैं किसी समय सावधान होकर कर्तव्य-कर्म 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 तथा इस समस्त प्रजाको नष्ट करनेवाला बनूँ।Commentary
If I did not engage in action, people would also be inactive. They would not do their duties according to the Varnasrama Dharma (code of morals governing their own order and stage of life). Hence confusion of castes would arise. I would have to destroy these beings.