Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 23

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

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

Transliteration

yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ .
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ॥

Meaning

O Partha, if I were ever not to engage in action, tirelessly, men would in every way follow My path.

Word meanings

यदि – if
हि – for
अहम् – I
जातु – ever
कर्मणि – in action
अतन्द्रितः – untiring, unslothful
न वर्तेयम् – did not engage
मनुष्याः – men
मम – My
वर्त्म – path
अनुवर्तन्ते – follow
सर्वशः – in every way
पार्थ – O Partha

Anvaya (word order)

पार्थ, यदि हि अहम् अतन्द्रितः कर्मणि जातु न वर्तेयम्, (तदा) मनुष्याः सर्वशः मम वर्त्म अनुवर्तन्ते ।

Explanation

The Lord explains the reason for His example. If He Himself were to turn away from action, human beings, who always imitate their elders, would follow His path and give up work. Hence He remains ‘atandrita’ — alert and unslothful — engaged in action.

The word ‘atandrita’ deserves attention. ‘Tandra’ means drowsiness, slackness, carelessness. The Lord's action is watchful and unceasing, with no slackening. Shankara says that had He withdrawn from His obligatory duties, people would take His way as the norm and the bounds of dharma would break.

The verse also points to the responsibility of leadership: the lapses of one who stands high spread downward. A teacher's indifference spoils a class; a head's carelessness spoils a family.

For Arjuna the message is plain: his withdrawal from duty would mislead the paths of many.

Context

In 3.22 the Lord said He has no duty, yet acts. Verse 3.23 gives the reason, and 3.24 will state the destructive consequence of not acting.

Life lesson

Where you stand, your alertness is a support to others. Laziness and indifference are not merely private faults; they are collective losses.

Key terms

Atandrita: untiring, alert
Vartma: path, way of conduct
Sarvashah: in every way