na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ triṣhu lokeṣhu kiñchana
nānavāptam avāptavyaṁ varta eva cha karmaṇi
na — not;
me — mine;
pārtha — Arjun;
asti — is;
kartavyam — duty;
triṣhu — in the three;
lokeṣhu — worlds;
kiñchana — any;
na — not;
anavāptam — to be attained;
avāptavyam — to be gained;
varte — I am engaged;
eva — yet;
cha — also;
karmaṇi — in prescribed duties
In this verse, Lord Krishna is speaking to Arjuna, clarifying that He does not have any specific duties to perform in the three worlds (heaven, earth, and hell). Unlike common living beings who must work to satisfy their needs—such as food, shelter, and safety—Krishna, as the Supreme Being, does not require anything. He is whole and complete in Himself.
Krishna mentions that He is always engaged in work, even when He doesn’t need to accomplish anything for Himself. This is significant because it highlights a profound truth about His nature. In other words, His actions are not driven by necessity or personal gain, but rather they are spontaneous and natural. This is different from how humans operate, as people often work because they want something in return, whether it’s money, recognition, or other benefits.
Krishna's role is also unique in that He is not limited by the physical body like ordinary people. His senses are not just physical; they are spiritual and function beyond the normal constraints we experience. For example, one of His senses can perform all the functions of the others. This shows His supreme power and engages Him in a different realm than ours.
Thus, Krishna points out that even though He doesn’t have duties to fulfill for Himself, He still engages in work. His work, though, serves a higher purpose: guiding, helping, and maintaining the universe. He does this not out of need, but out of love and responsibility toward creation. He sets an example for all beings, showing that work can be done selflessly and effectively without personal motives.
In essence, this verse teaches us that work itself is important, and we should perform our duties sincerely. However, we should aim to do our work without selfish desires, just like Krishna, who works not for Himself but for the wellbeing of all.