Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.21 यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः
श्लोक 3.21
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः ।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥
yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ |
sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
श्रेष्ठ पुरुष जैसा आचरण करता है, अन्य लोग भी वैसा ही करते हैं। वह जो मानदंड स्थापित करता है, सारा संसार उसी का अनुसरण करता है।
Meaning in English
Whatever a great person does, others follow. Whatever standard such a person sets, the world goes by it.
Bhagavad Gita 3.21 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| यत् यत् | yat yat | whatever |
| आचरति | ācarati | does |
| श्रेष्ठः | śreṣṭhaḥ | a great person, a leader |
| तत् तत् एव | tat tat eva | that very thing |
| इतरः जनः | itaraḥ janaḥ | other people |
| सः | saḥ | that person |
| यत् प्रमाणम् | yat pramāṇam | whatever standard |
| कुरुते | kurute | sets |
| लोकः | lokaḥ | the world |
| तत् अनुवर्तते | tat anuvartate | follows that |
Explanation
Whatever a great person does, others imitate; whatever standard they set, the world follows.
Krishna gives this as a reason to keep acting even after attaining wisdom: leaders, parents, teachers and elders teach far more by example than by words. He adds that he himself, though he has nothing to gain, keeps acting so that people are not misled (3.22–24).
भावार्थ
श्रेष्ठ पुरुष जैसा आचरण करता है, दूसरे लोग भी वैसा ही करते हैं; वह जो मानदण्ड स्थापित करता है, संसार उसी का अनुसरण करता है।
Living it today
Children, juniors and friends copy what you do more than what you say — live the values you want to see.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.21?
Whatever a great person does, others imitate; whatever standard they set, the world follows.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.21?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.21 in daily life?
Children, juniors and friends copy what you do more than what you say — live the values you want to see.
Reflected on verse 3.21?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.