If I did not act, these worlds would fall into ruin. I would create disorder and destroy these people.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.24
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पार्थ अगर मैं किसी समय सावधान होकर कर्तव्यकर्म न करूँ तो बड़ी हानि हो जाय क्योंकि मनुष्य सब प्रकारसे मेरे ही मार्गका अनुसरण करते हैं । यदि मैं कर्म न करूँ, तो ये सब मनुष्य नष्टभ्रष्ट हो जायँ और मैं वर्णसंकरताको करनेवाला तथा इस समस्त प्रजाको नष्ट करनेवाला बनूँ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
उत्सीदेयुःwould fall into ruinइमेtheseलोकाःworldsनnotकुर्याम्I would doकर्मactionचेत्ifअहम्Iचandकर्ताmakerस्याम्I would becomeउपहन्याम्I would destroyइमाःtheseप्रजाःpeople
Read literallywould fall into ruin · these · worlds · not · I would do · action · if · I · and · maker · I would become · I would destroy · these · people
Understanding the verse
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It shifts duty from personal preference to responsibility for the wider order.
Krishna says that even he must keep acting, because if he stopped, society would fall into disorder and people would be harmed.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen. Krishna explains that duty is not optional even for the highest being: if he stopped acting, the social order would break and people would suffer. This verse strengthens the case for steady action.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You skip the hard conversation, hoping the problem will wait. It doesn't. Silence spreads confusion, and everyone around you ends up paying for your avoidance.
The takeaway
“Your actions matter beyond you. Neglecting what you must do can unsettle many lives.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga(55 verses), duty(13 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 3.24 mean?
Krishna says that even he must keep acting, because if he stopped, society would fall into disorder and people would be harmed.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.24?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 3.24?
Verse 24 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 3.24 matter today?
You skip the hard conversation, hoping the problem will wait. It doesn't. Silence spreads confusion, and everyone around you ends up paying for your avoidance.
It shifts duty from personal preference to responsibility for the wider order.
What this verse means
Krishna says that even he must keep acting, because if he stopped, society would fall into disorder and people would be harmed.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen. Krishna explains that duty is not optional even for the highest being: if he stopped acting, the social order would break and people would suffer. This verse strengthens the case for steady action.
Why this verse still matters
You skip the hard conversation, hoping the problem will wait. It doesn't. Silence spreads confusion, and everyone around you ends up paying for your avoidance.
“Your actions matter beyond you. Neglecting what you must do can unsettle many lives.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), duty (13 verses)