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𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌃

Yad Yad Acharati Shreshthah (Bhagavad Gita 3.21) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Morning, or before taking up duties of leadership and responsibility·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 21
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 21 · Veda Vyasa (Lord Krishna's teaching) · Itihasa (Mahabharata)

In the third chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, the Karma Yoga, Lord Krishna urges Arjuna to act for the welfare of the world (lokasangraha). To show why even the enlightened should keep performing their duties, he points out in this verse that common people follow the example of great persons — whatever standard a leader sets, the world adopts as its own.

✦ As told in scripture

It is taught that the actions of the noble ripple outward far beyond themselves — a single life lived with integrity becomes a standard that uplifts countless others, which is why the wise continue to act righteously for the good of the world.

The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍇𑌤𑌰𑍋 𑌜𑌨𑌃। 𑌸 𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍇 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌦𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍇॥

yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate

Meaning:Whatever a great person does, others also do; whatever standard he sets, the world follows.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑌯𑌤𑍍 𑌯𑌤𑍍🔊yat yatwhatever
𑌆𑌚𑌰𑌤𑌿🔊ācharatidoes, practises
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌃🔊śhreṣhṭhaḥa great or noble person, the best
𑌤𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌤𑍍🔊tat tatthat (alone), exactly that
𑌏𑌵🔊evacertainly, indeed
𑌇𑌤𑌰𑌃🔊itaraḥcommon, other
𑌜𑌨𑌃🔊janaḥpeople
𑌸𑌃🔊saḥhe, that person
𑌯𑌤𑍍🔊yatwhichever
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌮𑍍🔊pramāṇamstandard, example
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍇🔊kurutesets, performs
𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌃🔊lokaḥthe world, people
𑌤𑌤𑍍🔊tatthat
𑌅𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍇🔊anuvartatefollows, pursues

Benefits of Chanting Yad Yad Acharati Shreshthah (Bhagavad Gita 3.21)

✦

A timeless teaching on leadership by example — the great set the standard the world follows.

✦

Inspires those in positions of influence to act righteously and responsibly.

✦

Reminds us that our conduct quietly shapes and teaches those around us.

✦

Recited and contemplated by leaders, teachers, parents and elders seeking to set a worthy example.

✦

Encourages integrity, knowing that good actions uplift society far beyond oneself.

How to Chant Yad Yad Acharati Shreshthah (Bhagavad Gita 3.21)

Repetitions11times
Best TimeMorning, or before taking up duties of leadership and responsibility

Recite the verse and reflect on its meaning — that one's own conduct becomes an example others follow. It is contemplated by anyone in a role of influence as a reminder to act with integrity, since one's behaviour sets a standard for the world around.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Yad Yad Acharati Shreshthah (Bhagavad Gita 3.21) written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.
Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.
From Bhagavad Gita 3.21, it means: 'Whatever a great person does, others also do; whatever standard he sets, the world follows.' Krishna teaches that respected, noble people lead by example, and society imitates their conduct.
Krishna is explaining why even the wise and accomplished should keep performing their duties. As a great person whom others look up to, one's actions set a standard; abandoning duty would mislead the world, so the noble continue to act rightly for the welfare of all (lokasangraha).
It applies to every leader, teacher, parent and elder. People naturally follow the example of those they respect, so this verse urges anyone in a position of influence to act with integrity, knowing their conduct shapes the behaviour of many.

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