Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 24 (3.24)
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 24 (3.24)
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् । सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः | | ३-२४ | |
utsīdeyurime lokā na kuryāṁ karma chedaham saṅkarasya cha kartā syāmupahanyāmimāḥ prajāḥ
Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
- उइएउ
(utsideyuh)— ये लोक नष्ट हो जाएंगे(these worlds would fall into ruin) - इए
(ime)— ये लोक नष्ट हो जाएंगे(these worlds would fall into ruin) - लोकाः
(lokah)— ये लोक नष्ट हो जाएंगे(these worlds would fall into ruin) - न
(na)— यदि मैं कर्म न करूं(if I did not act) - उय
(kuryam)— यदि मैं कर्म न करूं(if I did not act) - कर्म
(karma)— यदि मैं कर्म न करूं(if I did not act) - चेत्
(chet)— यदि मैं कर्म न करूं(if I did not act) - अहम्
(aham)— यदि मैं कर्म न करूं(if I did not act)
Line 2:
- सकरय
(sankarasya)— मैं भ्रम का कारण बनूंगा(I would become the cause of confusion) - च
(cha)— मैं भ्रम का कारण बनूंगा(I would become the cause of confusion) - कर्ता
(karta)— मैं भ्रम का कारण बनूंगा(I would become the cause of confusion) - स्याम्
(syam)— मैं भ्रम का कारण बनूंगा(I would become the cause of confusion) - उपहय
(upahanyam)— मैं इन प्रजाओं को हानि पहुंचाऊंगा(I would harm these people) - इम
(imah)— मैं इन प्रजाओं को हानि पहुंचाऊंगा(I would harm these people) - प्रजाः
(prajah)— मैं इन प्रजाओं को हानि पहुंचाऊंगा(I would harm these people)
English: And if I were to refrain from action, the human race would be ruined; I should lead the world to chaos, and destruction would follow.
Learnings from Shloka 24:
- Self-contentment is higher than dependence:: A person who is satisfied within the Self does not need outside praise, possessions, or results to feel complete.
- Freedom does not mean laziness:: The wise may have nothing personal to gain, but they still act for a higher purpose.
- Duty becomes service:: Karma Yoga asks us to work because it is right and helpful, not because desire is pushing us.
- Great people set the standard:: Others naturally follow those they respect. Younger students imitate older students, siblings imitate siblings, and a team often imitates its captain.
- Leadership carries responsibility:: If a role model stops studying, serving, or being kind, others may think that behavior is acceptable.
- Krishna Himself acts:: Even though Krishna has nothing to gain, He continues to work to protect the order of the world.
- Inaction can create confusion:: When those who know better stop doing their duty, the people who look up to them can lose direction.
Gita Knowledge Quiz
Review this sectionNow that you have completed shlokas 17-24, check your understanding with a short quiz.
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Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 3.24 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Krishna says He has nothing personal to gain, yet He still acts. This is the responsibility of leadership. A principal, parent, teacher, elder sibling, or team captain may already know what to do, but their action keeps the larger system steady.
When a role model stops showing up, others slowly lose direction. If the principal disappears, teachers may stop caring; if teachers stop caring, students may stop learning. In the same way, Krishna acts for *lokasangraha*, holding the world together. We also act not only for ourselves, but because others learn from what we do.
### Shlokas 25-35 **Marks of the wise and the unwise; instruction on action without attraction and repulsion.**