Chap 3, Shloka 21 - 25

Chap 3, Shloka 21.

Translations from Shri Prabhupada's "Bhagavad Gita As it is"

Weblink: http://www.asitis.com/3/21.html

yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah
sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate

SYNONYMS

yat--whatever; yat--and whichever; acarati--does he act; sresthah--a respectable leader; tat--that; tat--and that alone; eva--certainly; itarah--common; janah--person; sah--he; yat--whichever; pramanam--evidence; kurute--does perform; lokah--all the world; tat--that; anuvartate--follow in the footsteps.

TRANSLATION

Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

Chap 3, Shloka 22.

Translations from Shri Prabhupada's "Bhagavad Gita As it is"

Weblink: http://www.asitis.com/3/22.html

na me parthasti kartavyam trisu lokesu kincana
nanavaptam avaptavyam varta eva ca karmani

SYNONYMS

na--not; me--Mine; partha--O son of Prtha; asti--there is; kartavyam--any prescribed duty; trisu--in the three; lokesu--planetary systems; kincana--anything; na--no; anavaptam--in want; avaptavyam--to be gained; varte--engaged; eva--certainly; ca--also; karmani--in one's prescribed duty.

TRANSLATION

O son of Prtha, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I need to obtain anything--and yet I am engaged in work.



Chap 3, Shloka 23.

Translations from Shri Prabhupada's "Bhagavad Gita As it is"

Weblink: http://www.asitis.com/3/23.html

yadi hy aham na varteyam jatu karmany atandritah
mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah

SYNONYMS

yadi--if; hi--certainly; aham--I; na--do not; varteyam--thus engage; jatu--ever; karmani--in the performance of prescribed duties; atandritah--with great care; mama--My; vartma--path; anuvartante--would follow; manusyah--all men; partha--O son of Prtha; sarvasah--in all respects.

TRANSLATION

For, if I did not engage in work, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path.

Chap 3, Shloka 24.

Translations from Shri Prabhupada's "Bhagavad Gita As it is"

Weblink: http://www.asitis.com/3/24.html

utsideyur ime loka na kuryam karma ced aham
sankarasya ca karta syam upahanyam imah prajah

SYNONYMS

utsideyuh--put into ruin; ime--all these; lokah--worlds; na--do not; kuryam--perform; karma--prescribed duties; cet--if; aham--I; sankarasya--of unwanted population; ca--and; karta--creator; syam--shall be; upahanyam--destroy; imah--all these; prajah--living entities.

TRANSLATION

If I should cease to work, then all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would also be the cause of creating unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all sentient beings.



Chap 3, Shloka 25

Translations from Shri Prabhupada's "Bhagavad Gita As it is"

Weblink: http://www.asitis.com/3/25.html

saktah karmany avidvamso yatha kurvanti bharata
kuryad vidvams tathasaktas cikirsur loka-sangraham

SYNONYMS

saktah--being attached; karmani--prescribed duties; avidvamsah--the ignorant; yatha--as much as; kurvanti--do it; bharata--O descendant of Bharata; kuryat--must do; vidvan--the learned; tatha--thus; asaktah--without attachment; cikirsuh--desiring to; loka-sangraham--leading the people in general.

TRANSLATION

As the ignorant perform their duties with attachment to results, similarly the learned may also act, but without attachment, for the sake of leading people on the right path.