उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् ।
सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ॥
सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ॥
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 ॥
English
If I did not act, these worlds would fall into ruin. I would create disorder and destroy these people.
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.
The takeaway
Your actions matter beyond you. Neglecting what you must do can unsettle many lives.
Word-by-word translation
उत्सीदेयुः (would fall into ruin) / इमे (these) / लोकाः (worlds) / न (not) / कुर्याम् (I would do) / कर्म (action) / चेत् (if) / अहम् (I) / सङ्करस्य (of disorder / mixed confusion) / च (and) / कर्ता (maker) / स्याम् (I would become) / उपहन्याम् (I would destroy) / इमाः (these) / प्रजाः (people)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3: Karma Yoga — The Yoga of Action, which contains 43 verses.
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), duty (13 verses)