Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.24 उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्
श्लोक 3.24
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् ।
सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ॥
utsīdeyurime lokā na kuryāṃ karma cedaham |
saṅkarasya ca kartā syāmupahanyāmimāḥ prajāḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
यदि मैं कर्म न करूँ, तो ये सब लोक नष्ट हो जाएँ। मैं अव्यवस्था (संकर) का कारण बनूँ और इस सारी प्रजा का विनाश करने वाला ठहरूँ।
Meaning in English
If I did not act, these worlds would fall into ruin. I would be the cause of confusion and disorder, and would bring harm to these beings.
Bhagavad Gita 3.24 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| उत्सीदेयुः | utsīdeyuḥ | would perish, fall into ruin |
| इमे | ime | these |
| लोकाः | lokāḥ | worlds |
| न | na | not |
| कुर्याम् | kuryām | I were to do |
| कर्म | karma | action |
| चेत् | cet | if |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| सङ्करस्य | saṅkarasya | of confusion, disorder |
| च | ca | and |
| कर्ता | kartā | the cause, maker |
| स्याम् | syām | I would be |
| उपहन्याम् | upahanyām | I would destroy |
| इमाः | imāḥ | these |
| प्रजाः | prajāḥ | beings, people |
Explanation
If I did not act, these worlds would fall into ruin. I would be the cause of confusion and disorder, and would destroy these people.
Sankara, mixture or confusion, echoes Arjuna's fear in Chapter 1 that war would cause social disorder. Krishna turns the argument around: neglect of duty by the great is what really causes chaos. Traditional commentators take sankara as the mixing of social orders; many modern readers take it more broadly as loss of order and values. Either way, the verse ties personal duty to the stability of society.
भावार्थ
यदि मैं कर्म न करूँ तो ये सब लोक नष्ट हो जाएँ, और मैं वर्णसंकर (अव्यवस्था) का कारण बनूँ तथा इस सारी प्रजा का नाश करने वाला बनूँ।
Living it today
Systems hold together because people quietly keep doing their part. Do not underestimate the cost of walking away from yours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.24?
If I did not act, these worlds would fall into ruin. I would be the cause of confusion and disorder, and would destroy these people.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.24?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.24 in daily life?
Systems hold together because people quietly keep doing their part. Do not underestimate the cost of walking away from yours.
Reflected on verse 3.24?
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