Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16, Verse 24

Chapter 16 – Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ ।
ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥

Transliteration

tasmācchāstraṃ pramāṇaṃ te kāryākāryavyavasthitau .
jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṃ karma kartumihārhasi ॥

Meaning

Therefore let scripture be your authority in deciding what should be done and what should not be done. Knowing what the scriptural injunctions declare, you should perform your work here in this world.

Word meanings

तस्मात् – therefore
शास्त्रम् – scripture
प्रमाणम् – authority, standard of knowledge
ते – for you
कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ – in determining what should and should not be done
ज्ञात्वा – having known
शास्त्रविधानोक्तम् – what is declared by scriptural injunction
कर्म – action, work
कर्तुम् – to perform
इह – here, in this world
अर्हसि – you ought

Anvaya (word order)

तस्मात् कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ ते शास्त्रं प्रमाणम् । शास्त्रविधानोक्तं ज्ञात्वा इह कर्म कर्तुम् अर्हसि ।

Explanation

This is the closing verse of Chapter 16 and its practical conclusion. The word tasmat, 'therefore', ties together all that went before: because the demonic nature leads to downfall, because desire, anger and greed are the gates of hell, and because whimsical conduct leads to no good end, therefore make scripture your authority.

Karyakarya-vyavasthitau: 'in deciding what should and should not be done'. Life brings many moments of dilemma, just as Arjuna faced on the battlefield. At such times emotions, self-interest and fear cloud judgement. One then needs an external, impartial standard that has stood the test of time. That standard is scripture.

In Indian philosophy, pramana means a valid means of knowledge. Through perception and inference we know the physical world, but dharma and adharma, merit and sin, the Self and the Supreme lie beyond the senses and ordinary reasoning. For these, shabda pramana, the testimony of scripture, is needed. Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva all agree that in matters of dharma scripture is the final authority.

Jnatva, 'having known', is also significant. It is not enough merely to accept scripture; one must know it properly, understand it and grasp its true intent. This needs both the guidance of a qualified teacher and one's own reflection. Misreading scripture is as harmful as ignoring it.

Karma kartum iharhasi: 'you should perform your work here.' This directly answers Arjuna's original question. He had wished to abandon the battle and live by begging (2.5). Krishna says that according to scripture his duty, fighting to protect dharma, is what he should do. The verse thus links philosophy with action.

The message of the chapter is clear: embrace the divine qualities; recognise and abandon the demonic faults; close the gates of desire, anger and greed; and, by the light of scripture, do your duty while moving towards the supreme goal. In the next chapter Arjuna will raise a subtle question on this very point: what of those who worship with faith but without knowing the scriptural rules?

Context

The previous verse said that one who abandons scriptural guidance and acts on whim gains nothing; this verse draws the conclusion and completes Chapter 16. At the start of Chapter 17 Arjuna asks about the standing of those who set scripture aside yet worship with faith.

Life lesson

In moments of dilemma, let scripture and a true teacher's guidance, rather than emotion or self-interest, be your touchstone. Do not merely accept scripture; understand it, and then do your duty wholeheartedly.

Key terms

Pramana: A valid means of knowledge; a reliable standard
Karyakarya-vyavasthiti: Deciding between what should and should not be done
Shastra-vidhana: The ordinance or rule laid down in scripture