Bhagavad Gita 3.22न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन।नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥
na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ triṣhu lokeṣhu
kiñchana nānavāptam avāptavyaṁ varta eva cha karmaṇi
Sanskrit recitation
Lead by how you live · 3.17–3.29 · Teaching
Translation
There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there anything unattained that needs to be attained; yet I engage Myself in action.
Hindi translation
हे पार्थ! मुझे तीनों लोकोंमें न तो कुछ कर्तव्य है और न कोई प्राप्त करनेयोग्य वस्तु अप्राप्त है, फिर भी मैं कर्तव्यकर्ममें ही लगा रहता हूँ।
Meaning
I am the Lord of the universe and therefore I have no personal grounds to engage. Myself in action. I have nothing to achieve as I have all divine wealth, as the wealth of the universe is Mine, and yet I engage Myself in action.Why do you not follow My example Why do you not endeavour to prevent the masses from following the wrong path by setting an example yourself If you set an example, people will follow you as you are a leader with noble alities.
After Swami Sivananda
Lead by how you live· 3.17–3.29→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 3.17But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and is…
- 3.18For him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend…
- 3.19Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by…
- 3.20Janaka and others attained perfection indeed through action alone; even with the intention…
- 3.21Whatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the…
3.22There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there…
- 3.23For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way…
- 3.24These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion…
- 3.25As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without…
- 3.26Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he…
- 3.27All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is…
- 3.28But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities…
- 3.29Those deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities.…
Word-by-word→
- me
- mine
- na
- not
- cha
- also
- eva
- yet
- asti
- is
- varte
- I am engaged
- pārtha
- Arjun
- triṣhu
- in the three
- karmaṇi
- in prescribed duties
- kartavyam
- duty
- kiñchana
- any
- lokeṣhu
- worlds
- anavāptam
- to be attained
- avāptavyam
- to be gained
Read this when you feel
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- 3.5Verily, no one can remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is…
- 4.7Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and an increase of unrighteousness, O Arjuna,…
- 6.1The Blessed Lord said: He who performs his bounden duty without depending on the fruits of…