BG3.21

We are listening to the lecture from the sannidhi of Sri Appakkudathan. He is there to bless all the devotees. We will now see the 22nd sloka. Sri Krishna is going to cite Himself as an example to follow Karma yoga. Firstly Karma yoga is easy, it is habitual, Gyana yoga is embedded in Karma yoga and Gyana yogis also follow Karma yoga. Only those who have had atman darshan can relinquish Karma yoga. Great Gyana yogis like Janaka have followed Karma yoga. Finally, Arjuna has to practice what his followers could adopt. Otherwise his followers will follow impossible tasks and fail. Now the 22nd sloka:

na me parthasti kartavyamtrisu lokesu kincanananavaptam avaptavyamvarta eva ca karmani
"O son of Pritha, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I a need to obtain anything—and yet I am engaged in prescribed duties."

Sri Krishna tells that He has set aside His other actions and have come to help Arjuna and is functioning as his chariot driver. In this role He takes care of the horses and drives the chariot of Arjuna as required by him. Sri Krishna tells that though He is born as human being or a beast or a deva, there is nothing He, as the Almighty God, has to do anything as duty. In spite of this is He not performing the duties of the role He has taken in every birth? Sri Krishna has nothing to achieve by doing these duties. He is called avapta samastha kaman - that is One Who has all the desires fulfilled. There is not a single desire He is wanting to get fulfilled. While taking birth He selects the place, the time and the parents. He has to obey nobody's commands. All commands in Vedas are His commands and He need not follow those and they are meant for us. This is different from what we come across in our lives. Our law makers are bound by the laws they make. But in religion, God is not expected to obey the laws He has made for us. Despite all these Sri Krishna is performing all the duties expected of an ordinary human like chariot driver. So Arjuna should follow Karma yoga noting such great persons as examples.