Verse 3.22

Sanskrit

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन। नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि।।

Transliteration (IAST)

na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana | nānavāptam avāptavyaṁ varta eva ca karmaṇi ||

Word-by-Word Meanings

Translation

O Partha, there is nothing in the three worlds that I need to do, nor anything unattained that I need to attain - yet I continue to engage in action.

Commentary

Krishna uses Himself as the supreme example. As the Lord of all creation, He has nothing to gain, yet He continues to act. This demonstrates that action performed without selfish motive is the highest ideal. If God Himself acts for the world's welfare, how much more should humans engage in duty.

Themes

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