Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 23 Meaning
For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way follow my path, O Arjuna.
BG 3.23
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः। मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः
yadi hyahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ
Meaning
For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way follow my path, O Arjuna.
Available in 28 languages
What Does Bhagavad Gita 3.23 Mean?
For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way follow my path, O Arjuna. Situated within the chapter on The Yoga of Action, this verse contributes to the Gita's exploration of selfless action and its relationship to duty. What distinguishes this verse is its integration of selfless action with the broader framework of the Gita's philosophy. Rather than treating spiritual life as separate from worldly engagement, Krishna shows how duty can be realized through every aspect of human experience.
What makes this teaching enduringly relevant is its refusal to separate the spiritual from the ordinary. The very situations that challenge us become the ground of practice when approached with the understanding this verse provides.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 3.23?
The path of selfless action, performing one's duty without attachment to results.
Key themes in this chapter include Action, Duty, Selflessness, Work.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 3.23 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with action
- •When practicing duty amid uncertainty
- •When applying selflessness to real-life choices
Verse FAQs
What is the main idea of Bhagavad Gita 3.23?
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.23 in daily life?
Related Verses
BG 3.5
Verily, no one can remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is made to act helplessly, indeed, by the qualities born of Nature.
BG 3.8
Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction.
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
Read in Other Languages
Build a daily reading habit with Nitya
Get the Free App