3.22 — Krishna’s own example

Sanskrit · Teaching film · Everyday practice

Speaker: Krishna, addressing Arjuna.

The shloka

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन ।
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥ २२ ॥

Brief meaning

Krishna says there is nothing in the three worlds that he must do, and nothing unattained for him to attain, and yet he continues in action.

In the conversation

Krishna now speaks of himself. There is nothing in the three worlds he must do and nothing left for him to gain, yet he continues to act. If he stopped, people would follow, and the worlds would fall into confusion. Divine action is presented as care for the order of the world, not as need.

Word by word

न मे पार्थ अस्ति कर्तव्यम्

There is nothing I must do, O Pārtha,

त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन

anywhere in the three worlds,

न अनवाप्तम् अवाप्तव्यम्

nothing unattained that I need to attain,

वर्ते एव च कर्मणि

and yet I remain engaged in action.

Going deeper

Krishna calls Arjuna Pārtha, son of Pṛthā. The three worlds are the whole of existence. Vartma means path: people follow the path of the one they look up to. Saṅkara means confusion, the loss of order. In chapter one Arjuna feared that fighting would bring such confusion. Krishna turns this around and shows that abandoning one’s work can bring confusion too.

Everyday reflection

Think of a respected elder who still turns up early to help set out chairs at the temple or community hall, though no one would blame them for resting. Their presence tells others that the work matters. Doing something you no longer have to do can be a quiet form of care. Is there something you have outgrown the need to do, which others still need to see done?

Consider today: Do one helpful thing that nobody requires of you.