3.23 — Krishna’s own example

Sanskrit · Teaching film · Everyday practice

Speaker: Krishna, addressing Arjuna.

The shloka

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥ २३ ॥

Brief meaning

If he did not tirelessly engage in action, people everywhere would follow his path.

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

यदि हि अहम् न वर्तेयम्

For if I did not engage

जातु कर्मणि अतन्द्रितः

in action, ever tirelessly,

मम वर्त्म अनुवर्तन्ते

people would follow my path

मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

in every way, O Pārtha.

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: Keep one commitment even when skipping it would go unnoticed.