यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः।मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

• 3.17But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and is content in the Self alone, indeed there is nothing to do.
• 3.18For him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend on any being for any purpose.
• 3.19Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by performing actions without attachment, one reaches the Supreme.
• 3.20Janaka and others attained perfection indeed through action alone; even with the intention of protecting the masses, you should perform action.
• 3.21Whatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the world follows.
• 3.22There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there anything unattained that needs to be attained; yet I engage Myself in action.

• 3.23For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way follow my path, O Arjuna.

• 3.24These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion of castes and destruction of these beings.
• 3.25As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, wishing for the welfare of the world.
• 3.26Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he should engage them in all actions, himself fulfilling them with devotion.
• 3.27All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks, "I am the doer."
• 3.28But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities and their functions, knowing that the Gunas, as senses, move amidst the Gunas, as the sense-objects, is not attached.
• 3.29Those deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities. The man of perfect knowledge should not unsettle the foolish one who is of imperfect knowledge.

hi

certainly

na

not

aham

I

mama

my

yadi

if

jātu

ever

vartma

path

pārtha

Arjun, the son of Pritha

varteyam

thus engage

karmaṇi

in the performance of prescribed duties

anuvartante

follow

atandritaḥ

carefully

sarvaśhaḥ

in all respects

manuṣhyāḥ

all men