🔥 If God Stops Acting, the World Falls Apart | Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Shloka 23 Explained

📜 श्लोक (Sanskrit)

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥ 23 ॥

---

🔤 IAST Transliteration

yadi hy ahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇy atandritaḥ
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ॥ 23 ॥

---

🇮🇳 हिन्दी अनुवाद (Hindi Translation)

हे पार्थ! यदि मैं कभी भी सावधानीपूर्वक कर्म में न लगा रहूँ, तो सभी मनुष्य हर प्रकार से मेरे मार्ग का ही अनुसरण करेंगे।

---

🌐 English Translation

O Partha, if I were ever to cease from action with vigilance, then all people would completely follow my path in every way.

---

🧠 व्याख्या (Detailed Explanation in Hindi)

इस श्लोक में श्रीकृष्ण यह स्पष्ट करते हैं कि उनका कर्म में निरंतर लगा रहना सिर्फ व्यक्तिगत नहीं, बल्कि सार्वभौमिक उत्तरदायित्व है।

• “यदि अहं न वर्तेयं” — यदि मैं कर्म न करूँ,

• “जातु” — कभी भी,

• “अतन्द्रितः” — बिना आलस्य के कर्म करना आवश्यक है,

• “मम वर्त्मा” — मेरे मार्ग को

• “मनुष्याः सर्वशः” — लोग हर प्रकार से अनुसरण करते हैं।

👉 इसका अर्थ यह है कि ईश्वर या श्रेष्ठ पुरुष के कर्म का समाज पर गहरा प्रभाव होता है।

यदि श्रीकृष्ण जैसे दिव्य पुरुष कर्म न करें, तो आम जन में भी कर्तव्यों के प्रति अनासक्ति उत्पन्न हो जाएगी, जिससे समाज में अधर्म, आलस्य और अव्यवस्था फैल जाएगी।

इसलिए, वे जागरूकता और अनुशासन के साथ कर्म में लगे रहते हैं, ताकि लोगों को सही मार्ग पर चलने की प्रेरणा मिले।

---

📖 Detailed Explanation in English

Krishna deepens His previous point with a warning:

If I ever stop performing action diligently, then people everywhere will follow My example and stop acting too.

This shows the immense responsibility that comes with influence and leadership.

• Krishna doesn’t need to act—for He is complete.

• But if He doesn’t act, humans who follow Him will fall into inaction and neglect.

It’s a lesson in modeling behavior. Leaders don’t have the luxury of inaction because their every step is observed and copied.

This is a profound spiritual principle:

Those who shine the brightest cast the longest shadows of influence.

Thus, Krishna stays active—not for Himself, but for dharma, order, and the good of the world.

---

💡 Life Lessons / Practical Takeaways

• 👀 People will imitate you—make your example count.

• 🚨 Leadership is responsibility, not privilege.

• 🧘 Even when you don’t need to act, act for the sake of others.

• 🔄 Consistency in karma maintains balance in society.

• 🌱 Be vigilant in your duties—someone is learning from you.

---

🔚 Conclusion

Krishna’s words remind us that spiritual maturity does not exempt us from responsibility—it deepens it.

The wise and powerful must act with even more awareness and discipline, because the world is watching.

In the next verse, Krishna will describe the potential destruction and disorder that could arise if such responsible action is abandoned—even by one single great being.