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Bhagavad Gita

Translation by His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad

Chapter Three KARMA YOGA Verses 21 to 24

yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate	Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues..
na me parthasti kartavyam trisu lokesu kincana nanavaptam avaptavyam varta eva ca karmani	O son of Prtha, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I need to obtain anything--and yet I am engaged in work.
yadi hy aham na varteyam jatu karmany atandritah mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah	For, if I did not engage in work, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path..
utsideyur ime loka na kuryam karma ced aham sankarasya ca karta syam upahanyam imah prajah	If I should cease to work, then all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would also be the cause of creating unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all sentient beings.