3.23 If I did not act Krishna speaks

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

yadi hyahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ

For if I did not always act, and act with care, people would follow my path,

Explanation

Because people would follow.

If he did not always act, and act with care, people would follow his path.

atandritaḥ — unslackly, attentively. The reason given is not necessity but example, which is the same reason 3.21 gave Arjuna.