Shloka 23
Karma-Saṃnyāsa–Karma-Yoga Saṃvāda
Renunciation and the Discipline of Action
यदि हाहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रित: । मम वर्त्मनिवर्तन्ते मनुष्या: पार्थ सर्वश:
yadi hy ahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇy atandritaḥ | mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ||
“If I were ever to cease acting with vigilance in the performance of my duties, O Pārtha, it would bring great harm; for in every way people follow the path that I set, taking my conduct as their model.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Those in positions of influence must act diligently in accordance with dharma, because society imitates their conduct; negligence by a leader becomes a cause of widespread moral and practical decline.
In the Gītā discourse on the battlefield, Kṛṣṇa explains to Arjuna why he himself continues to act without negligence: not out of personal need, but to uphold order and set an example that others will follow.