Chapter 3, Verse 21
Part of 3: Karm Yog — कर्मयोगयद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः। स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते॥
🔊 Tap any word to hear it — or ▶ to recite the whole shloka
Transliteration
yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate
Meaning
ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਜੋ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਉਹੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ; ਉਹ ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣ ਵਜੋਂ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਗਤ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਅਨੁਸਰਣ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Word-by-word meaning
yat yat — whateverācharati — doesśhreṣhṭhaḥ — the besttat tat — that (alone)eva — certainlyitaraḥ — commonjanaḥ — peoplesaḥ — theyyat — whicheverpramāṇam — standardkurute — performlokaḥ — worldtat — thatanuvartate — pursues
Commentary
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 21?▼
ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਜੋ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਉਹੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ; ਉਹ ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣ ਵਜੋਂ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਗਤ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਅਨੁਸਰਣ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?▼
This is verse 21 of Chapter 3 (Karm Yog — Path of Selfless Service) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.