yadi hy ahaá¹ na varteyaá¹ jÄtu karmaṇy atandritaḥ mama vartmÄnuvartante manuá¹£yÄḥ pÄrtha sarvaÅ›aḥ [23]

(he) pÄrtha–O Arjuna; yadi jÄtu–if ever; aham–I; na varteyam–do not engage; atandritaḥ–attentively; karmaṇi–in duties; (tarhi)–then; hi–certainly; manuá¹£yÄḥ–all men; anuvartante–will follow; mama–My; vartma–path; sarvaÅ›aḥ–in all respects. [23]


Text

O Arjuna, if ever I do not engage attentively in duties, then all men, following My example, will give up their duties.

Purport