“If I were no longer able to work, all of this writing would be destroyed.” I also would be the cause of producing unthoughtful actions, and therefore I would destroy the peace of all sensitive living beings.

Context of the Verse:

            This sloka is a continuation of Krishna’s message from verses 22 and 23, when He establishes that, although He has no duty, He does act. In this verse, when Krishna states, ‘If I were not to act, O Arjuna, these worlds would fall into ruin. If I do not perform my duties, all these worlds would perish,’ Krishna is reminding Arjuna that he, Krishna, would be a causation for the breakdown of society and people throughout the world would experience confusion between their duties.

            It also emphasizes social and cosmic responsibility on the part of the wise and powerful. Krishna does not speak as a figure of divinity, but as a model for humanity.

Key Teachings in This Verse:

• Dangers of Inaction from Leaders: The light of the world can only be extinguished in darkness.
• The Duty of the Wise: Those who are not personally bound must act for the benefit of the world.
• Dharma (Social Order) is maintained by action; when it is neglected, it gives rise to Varna-Sankara (Social confusion or intermixture of duties) (Bhagavad Gita 1.15).
• More Than Freedom: The enlightened may visit Hell but will therefore help those in Hell.

Relevance to Arjuna:

• We learn in the first few stanzas that Arjuna is contemplating leaving the battle due to fear and confusion.
• Krishna cautions him: When the righteous do not act, society degenerates.
• As a Kshatriya prince, a great deal is expected of Arjuna when it comes to maintaining order (Dharma).
• His inaction would result in social meltdown, just as it would if Krishna had been passive.
• This passage is an alarm bell for Arjun – that Dharma, duty, takes precedence over personal misgivings.

Explanation:

            Krishna is telling if I cease to work. Then all these worlds would be put to ruination. I will be the cause of creating unwanted population if I don’t follow Brahmacharya, then accepting the Grihastha Ashram, people ask why Krishna married. Because for general people marriage is very important. Not everybody will be able to control the census. If Krishna did not set an example by marriage, Lord Ramchandra did not set an example by marriage. Then general mass would follow because they are kings. The king has to be very ideal in all respects. People think marriage is for enjoying sex life. Rather, the purpose totally converses. It is to regulate one sex life. If there is no marriage, then the person will do sex unlimitedly without restriction and sex life is so horrible that the dissatisfaction always increases in the heart. Does invest where people are unlimited opportunity for sex. There is more depression, more chaos in life. Because as Krishna will explain, this lust is never satisfied. It always burns more and more. The more you satisfy. So, in order to regulate, then the lust is regulated and finished. Then the memory is stable. Then only a person can have peace of mind and think over God and values of life. So that is why the marriage recommendation is there, so that list can be regulated and then Sanyas it can be given up.

            So, Krishna told if I don’t follow these rules and regulations of Varnashrama Dharma, then general people will start following my path and nobody would marry and then I would be the cause of creating unwanted population. If you don’t marry, don’t follow Garbhadhana Sanskar, purify consciousness in purified consciousness create progeny. The soul which will come if the husband and wife simply for sex enjoyment. They made and child is byproduct of such enjoyment. Child would be very lusty would be born with all lower qualities. So, one has to have very purified consciousness and at the time of conceiving the child the child carries the consciousness of father and mother. So these sciences if and now nobody knows it, the children are naturally disturbed, very lusty, greedy, angry, having very much the base qualities and the whole world is disturbed. So Krishna telling Sankaracharya unwanted progeny population will be created. I would be the cause and the whole world will be put to ruination. They will be inclined to do all nasty activities, will not agree to become God conscious very easily.

            But it is important to note, even though Krishna has done activities for guiding us, Krishna has shown some supernatural activities also to assert that his supreme personality of Godhead.

            So ‘Mauryad’ foolish people want to imitate personalities like Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva drank poison. Can we drink poison? No. So please do not give argument that Lord Shiva, he has done some pastime, some activity or smoking. I will also smoke. No, Lord Shiva has taken the responsibility of advancing on the spiritual path, the most Tomsic living entities like ghosts and goblins. Thus, he moves around in the graveyard and he externally maintains a Tomsic appearance. So one should not also try to become Tomsic. No Lord Shiva has taken that responsibility of delivering ghosts and goblins on the path of spiritual advancement. If he also takes such external get up, we will fall in Tomoguna very badly and lose the opportunity of advancement, so we should not give this argument. Shiva smokes. I will also smoke. Shiva can smoke, Shiva can drink poison also and still live very happily. But we will die immediately. For Krishna dance did Rasleela. I will also do Rasleela know Krishna did for certain reason you cannot imitate that. So that is why? Ankaran and Anusaran two words are used. If a person does Anusara, and that is what is recommended. Following their footsteps, their instructions. And if a person does Anukaran, if he tries to act in the way Krishna has acted, Shiva has acted, they would be destroyed. So thus it is told Mauryad or foolish people. Rudra drank poison if they want to imitate, they will be finished. So not to imitate, but to follow the footsteps is the required necessity for spiritual advancement.