Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.22 न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु
श्लोक 3.22
न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन ।
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥
na me pārthāsti kartavyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana |
nānavāptamavāptavyaṃ varta eva ca karmaṇi ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे पार्थ! तीनों लोकों में मेरे लिए कोई कर्तव्य नहीं है, और न कोई ऐसी वस्तु है जो मुझे पानी बाकी हो, फिर भी मैं कर्म में लगा रहता हूँ।
Meaning in English
O Partha, there is nothing in the three worlds that I must do, nor anything I lack that I need to gain; yet I continue to engage in action.
Bhagavad Gita 3.22 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| न | na | not |
| मे | me | for me |
| पार्थ | pārtha | O Partha |
| अस्ति | asti | is |
| कर्तव्यम् | kartavyam | duty, what must be done |
| त्रिषु | triṣu | in the three |
| लोकेषु | lokeṣu | worlds |
| किञ्चन | kiñcana | anything |
| न | na | nothing |
| अनवाप्तम् | anavāptam | unattained |
| अवाप्तव्यम् | avāptavyam | to be attained |
| वर्ते | varte | I engage, I remain |
| एव | eva | still |
| च | ca | and |
| कर्मणि | karmaṇi | in action |
Explanation
O Partha, there is nothing in the three worlds that I must do, nor anything I lack that I need to gain; yet I continue to act.
Krishna now offers himself as the example. As the Lord, he has no unmet needs, yet he is constantly active, not least as Arjuna's charioteer. Commentators see here the logic of the previous verses applied to the divine: action without personal need is action for the world. Ramanuja stresses the Lord's work as grace for beings; Shankara sees it as acting for the guidance of others. It sets up the warning in the next two verses.
भावार्थ
हे पार्थ! तीनों लोकों में मेरे लिए कोई भी कर्तव्य नहीं है और न कोई अप्राप्त वस्तु प्राप्त करने योग्य है, फिर भी मैं कर्म में लगा रहता हूँ।
Living it today
People who have already 'made it' and still work hard set the tone for everyone. Keep contributing even when you no longer need to.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.22?
O Partha, there is nothing in the three worlds that I must do, nor anything I lack that I need to gain; yet I continue to act.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.22?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.22 in daily life?
People who have already 'made it' and still work hard set the tone for everyone. Keep contributing even when you no longer need to.
Reflected on verse 3.22?
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