यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः | मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ||३-२३||
yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ . mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ||3-23||
Chapter 3 · Verse 23
Karma Yoga
कर्मयोग
In plain words
You must stay active and responsible because your inaction can mislead others. If the Divine stopped performing karma, which means cosmic action, people would imitate that stillness and fall into lazy habits. By staying active, you help others avoid spiritual laziness and keep them aligned with their proper dharma, or life duties.
Translation
3.23 If I did not continue to work unwearied, O Arjuna, men would follow my path.
Meaning
If I remain inactive people also will imitate Me and keep iet. They will all become Tamasic and pass into a state of inertia.
Word by word
यदि if हि surely अहम् I न not वर्तेयम् engage Myself in action जातु ever कर्मणि in action अतन्द्रितः unwearied मम My वर्त्म path अनुवर्तन्ते follow मनुष्याः men पार्थ O Partha सर्वशः in every way.