Bhagavad Gita 3.21 · Yad Yad Acharati Shreshthahयद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥
yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro
janaḥ sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate
Sanskrit recitation
Lead by how you live · 3.17–3.29 · Teaching
Translation
Whatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the world follows.
Hindi translation
श्रेष्ठ मनुष्य जो-जो आचरण करता है, दूसरे मनुष्य वैसा-वैसा ही आचरण करते हैं। वह जो कुछ प्रमाण देता है, दूसरे मनुष्य उसीके अनुसार आचरण करते हैं।
Meaning
Man is a social animal. He is an imitating animal too. He takes his ideas of right and wrong from those whom he regards as his moral superior. Whatever a great man follows, the same is considered as an authority by his followers. They try to follow him. They endeavour to walk in his footsteps.
After Swami Sivananda
Lead by how you live· 3.17–3.29→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 3.17But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and is…
- 3.18For him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend…
- 3.19Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by…
- 3.20Janaka and others attained perfection indeed through action alone; even with the intention…
3.21Whatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the…
- 3.22There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there…
- 3.23For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way…
- 3.24These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion…
- 3.25As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without…
- 3.26Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he…
- 3.27All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is…
- 3.28But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities…
- 3.29Those deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities.…
Word-by-word→
- eva
- certainly
- tat
- that
- yat
- whichever
- saḥ
- they
- kurute
- perform
- janaḥ
- people
- lokaḥ
- world
- tat tat
- that (alone)
- yat yat
- whatever
- itaraḥ
- common
- ācharati
- does
- anuvartate
- pursues
- pramāṇam
- standard
- śhreṣhṭhaḥ
- the best
Read this when you feel
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