In Bhagavad Gita 3.24, Krishna says that if he did not act, these worlds would perish, and he would be the cause of confusion and the ruin of all beings.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका
न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्
सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्याम्
उपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ॥ ३-२४ ॥
utsīdeyurime lokā
na kuryāṃ karma cedaham
saṅkarasya ca kartā syām
upahanyāmimāḥ prajāḥ
English transliteration utseedeyurime lokaa
na kuryaam karma chedaham
sankarasya cha kartaa syaam
upahanyaamimaah prajaah ॥ 3.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
If I did not perform action, these worlds would perish. I would be the cause of confusion and would destroy these beings.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| उत्सीदेयुः utsīdeyuḥ | would perish |
| इमे ime | these |
| लोकाः lokāḥ | worlds |
| न na | not |
| कुर्याम् kuryām | would do |
| कर्म karma | action |
| चेत् cet | if |
| अहम् aham | I |
| सङ्करस्य saṅkarasya | of confusion |
| च ca | and |
| कर्ता kartā | the cause |
| स्याम् syām | would be |
| उपहन्याम् upahanyām | would destroy |
| इमाः imāḥ | these |
| प्रजाः prajāḥ | beings |
Word-wise Chanting
- ut–sī–de–yu–ri–me lo–kā 8 syllables ut-see-de-yu-ri-me lo-kaa
- na kur–yāṃ kar–ma ce–da–ham | 8 syllables na kur-yaam kar-ma che-da-ham
- saṅ–ka–ras–ya ca kar–tā syām– 8 syllables san-ka-ras-ya cha kar-taa syaam-
- u–pa–han–yā–mi–māḥ pra–jāḥ || 3-24 8 syllables u-pa-han-yaa-mi-maah pra-jaah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 3 Verse 24
Context
Krishna completes his self-example (3.22–3.24).
Meaning
The Divine’s action sustains the cosmos. If it stopped, the order of the worlds would collapse into saṅkara, confusion and chaos. In a smaller way, every responsible person holds part of the world together. When those with responsibility stop acting, confusion follows.
Arjuna earlier feared that fighting would cause social confusion (1.41). Krishna now turns this around: refusing to act would cause greater confusion. Abandoning responsibility does not protect order; it destroys it. Right action, not withdrawal, preserves the world.
In Practice
Identify one responsibility that would cause confusion for others if you neglected it. Give it your full care today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.