3.24
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् | संकरस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ||२४||
utsīdeyur ime lokā na kuryāṁ karma ched aham sankarasya cha kartā syām upahanyām imāḥ prajāḥ
Translation
If I did not perform prescribed duties, all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would be a cause of creating unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all living beings.
Interpretation
The cosmic stakes of inaction for the enlightened being. If Krishna stopped acting, chaos (sankara — mixture, disorder) would result. This principle extends to all who occupy positions of responsibility: their actions (or inactions) have consequences beyond themselves.