Bhagavad Gita 3.26न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्।जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान् युक्तः समाचरन् ॥
na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed ajñānāṁ karma-saṅginām
joṣhayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācharan
Sanskrit recitation
Lead by how you live · 3.17–3.29 · Teaching
Translation
Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he should engage them in all actions, himself fulfilling them with devotion.
Hindi translation
।।3.25 -- 3.26।। हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन! कर्ममें आसक्त हुए अज्ञानीजन जिस प्रकार कर्म करते हैं आसक्तिरहित विद्वान भी लोकसंग्रह करना चाहता हुआ उसी प्रकार कर्म करे। सावधान तत्त्वज्ञ महापुरुष कर्मोंमें आसक्तिवाले अज्ञानी मनुष्योंकी बुद्धिमें भ्रम उत्पन्न न करे, प्रत्युत स्वयं समस्त कर्मोंको अच्छी तरहसे करता हुआ उनसे भी वैसे ही करवाये।
Meaning
An ignorant may says to himelf, I shall do this action and thery enjoy its fruit. A wise man should not unsettle his belief. On the contrary he himself should set an example by performing his duties diligently but without attachment. The wise man should also persuade the ignorant never to neglect their duties. If need be, he should place before them in vivid colours the happiness they would enjoy here and hereafter by discharging such duties. When their hearts get purified in course of time, the wise man could sow the seeds of Karma Yoga (selfless service without deire) in them.
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→
- na
- not
- sarva
- all
- janayet
- should create
- vidvān
- the wise
- yuktaḥ
- enlightened
- ajñānām
- of the ignorant
- joṣhayet
- should inspire (them) to perform
- karmāṇi
- prescribed
- samācharan
- performing properly
- buddhi-bhedam
- discord in the intellects
- karma-saṅginām
- who are attached to fruitive actions
Related verses
- 3.7But whoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga…
- 18.14The body, the doer, the various senses, the different functions of various kinds, and the…
- 6.41Having attained to the worlds of the righteous and having dwelt there for everlasting…
- 2.7My heart is overpowered by the taint of pity; my mind is confused as to my duty. I ask…