Chapter 3, Verse 23
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः | मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ||३-२३||
yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ . mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ||3-23||
Meaning
3.23 For, should I not ever engage Myself in action, unwearied, men would in every way follow My path, O Arjuna.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna extends the logic of example to its sobering conclusion. If even he, the supreme being, were to cease acting and rest idle, people everywhere would imitate his inaction — for the world follows the conduct of the great. His tireless engagement, atandrita, is itself an act of compassion, holding the world steady.
This underscores how consequential the behaviour of the exemplary truly is. The withdrawal of a single revered figure can give countless others permission to abandon their own duties. Leadership, then, carries a weight beyond personal preference. Krishna acts not because he must, but because his very example sustains right conduct among humanity. For Arjuna and for all who hold any position of influence, the message is clear: your diligence or your negligence will be multiplied in the lives of those who look to you.
💡 Key Takeaway
Your example multiplies in others — if you slacken in your duty, those who look up to you will follow your lead into neglect.
Related Verses
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः | शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ||३-८||
niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ . śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ ||3-8||
3.8 Do thou perform (thy) bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for thee by inaction.
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः | लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ||३-२०||
karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ . lokasaṃgrahamevāpi sampaśyankartumarhasi ||3-20||
3.20 Janaka and others attained perfection verily by action only; even with a view to the protection of the masses thou shouldst perform action.
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः | स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ||३-२१||
yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ . sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate ||3-21||
3.21 Whatsoever a great man does, that the other men also do; whatever he sets up as the standard, that the world (mankind) follows.