यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥23॥
yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ
yadi = if; hi = certainly; ahaṃ = I; na = do not; varteyaṃ = thus engage; jātu = ever; karmaṇi = in the performance of prescribed duties; atandritaḥ = with great care; mama = My; vartma = path; anuvartante = would follow; manuṣyāḥ = all men; pārtha = O son of Pritha; sarvaśaḥ = in all respects.;
For, should I not ever engage Myself in action, without relaxation, men would in every way follow My Path, O son of Pritha.