न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन ।
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पार्थ मुझे तीनों लोकोंमें न तो कुछ कर्तव्य है और न कोई प्राप्त करनेयोग्य वस्तु अप्राप्त है, फिर भी मैं कर्तव्यकर्ममें ही लगा रहता हूँ ॥
English
O Partha, there is nothing in the three worlds that I must do, and nothing I have not yet gained that must be gained. Yet I remain engaged in action.
What this verse means
Krishna says he has no unfinished duty and nothing left to gain, yet he still stays active.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen before battle. Krishna explains why he himself still acts: not from need, but to guide the world. This verse turns Krishna into the model for action without craving.
Why this verse still matters
You’ve already won the argument in your head, but you still show up for the hard conversation. You do it not to get something, but because the action itself matters.
The takeaway
Real freedom is not doing less; it is acting without inner lack.
Word-by-word translation
न (not) / मे (for me) / पार्थ (O Partha) / अस्ति (there is) / कर्तव्यम् (to be done / duty) / त्रिषु (in the three) / लोकेषु (worlds) / किञ्चन (anything) / न (not) / अनवाप्तम् (not attained) / अवाप्तव्यम् (to be attained) / वर्ते (I remain / I engage) / एव (indeed) / च (and) / कर्मणि (in action)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3: Karma Yoga — The Yoga of Action, which contains 43 verses.
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), duty (13 verses)