न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन। नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि।।3.22।।
na me pārthāsti kartavyam triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana | na anavāptam avāptavyam vart eva ca karmaṇi ||
Translation
There is no duty for Me to do in all the three worlds, O Parth, nor do I have anything to gain or attain. Yet, I am engaged in prescribed duties.
Word Meanings
na — not; me — Mine; pārtha — O son of Pṛthā; asti — there is; kartavyam — prescribed duty; triṣu — in the three; lokeṣu — planetary systems; kiñcana — any; na — nothing; anavāptam — wanted; avāptavyam — to be gained; varte — I am engaged; eva — certainly; ca — also; karmaṇi — in prescribed duty.
Understanding the Verse
In this profound declaration, Lord Krishna reveals a crucial metaphysical truth about the nature of divine action. He tells Arjuna that He, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has no prescribed duties (kartavyam) in the three worlds (triṣu lokeṣu). This means that the Lord does not perform actions out of necessity, compulsion, or personal desire; He is not bound by the karmic law that obliges every embodied being. The phrase "na me ... asti" emphasizes the transcendence of the divine beyond the realm of obligation that governs mortals.
The second part, "na anavāptam avāptavyam," reinforces this idea by stating that there is nothing that the Lord needs to acquire nor anything that He needs to lose. The Supreme Being is complete, self‑sufficient, and free from any sense of lack or yearning. This freedom contrasts sharply with human experience, where actions are often motivated by desire for material gain, reputation, or fulfillment of duties owed to family and society.
Yet, paradoxically, Krishna adds that He "vart eva ca karmaṇi" – He remains engaged in action. This statement is not contradictory; instead, it illustrates the divine principle of selfless participation. Even without a personal need, the Lord chooses to act for the benefit of the world, maintaining cosmic order (dharma) and providing a living example of how to perform duties without attachment. This is the essence of "karma yoga" – acting without selfish motives, as a service to the greater good.
Krishna's teaching serves as a motivational anchor for Arjuna, who is paralyzed by doubt and fear on the battlefield. By presenting Himself as a model of action without personal gain, the Lord assures Arjuna that performing one's duty, even under duress, is righteous when done with the right attitude. The verse also implicitly refutes the idea that renunciation of action is the only path to spiritual liberation. Instead, it proposes an active renunciation: performing duties while remaining unattached to results.
The broader philosophical implication is that all beings can emulate this divine stance. By recognizing that the ultimate source of fulfillment lies not in external achievements but in aligning with the divine will, individuals can transcend the ego‑driven cycle of desire and disappointment. This empowers them to engage fully with life’s responsibilities while cultivating inner peace and spiritual growth.
Thus, verse 3.22 encapsulates a cornerstone of the Bhagavad Gita’s teaching: the Supreme’s freedom from duty and desire coexists with His active participation in the world, offering a template for selfless action that leads to liberation.
