January 13,2013.Day 139 . BHAGAVAD GITA - As It Is.Original by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Chapter 3. (Continued) TEXT 23

Chapter 3. Karma-yoga

TEXT 23

yadi hy aham na varteyam
jatu karmany atandritah
mama vartmanuvartante
manusyah partha sarvasah

SYNONYMS

yadi--if; hi--certainly; aham--I; na--do not; varteyam--thus engage;jatu--ever; karmani--in the performance of prescribed duties;atandritah--with great care; mama--My; vartma--path; anuvartante--would follow; manusyah--all men; partha--O son of Prtha; sarvasah--in all respects.

TRANSLATION

For, if I did not engage in work, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path.

PURPORT

In order to keep the balance of social tranquility for progress in spiritual life, there are traditional family usages meant for every civilized man. Although such rules and regulations are for the conditioned souls and not Lord Krsna, because He descended to establish the principles of religion, He followed the prescribed rules. Otherwise, common men would follow in His footsteps, because He is the greatest authority. From the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is understood that Lord Krsna was performing all the religious duties at home and out of home, as required of a householder.