Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 26

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् ।
जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् ॥

Transliteration

na buddhibhedaṃ janayedajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām .
joṣayetsarvakarmāṇi vidvānyuktaḥ samācaran ॥

Meaning

The wise one should not unsettle the minds of the ignorant who are attached to action; himself steady in yoga and performing all actions well, he should engage them in action too.

Word meanings

न – not
बुद्धिभेदम् – unsettling of the mind
जनयेत् – should create
अज्ञानाम् – of the ignorant
कर्मसङ्गिनाम् – attached to action
जोषयेत् – should engage them
सर्वकर्माणि – all actions
विद्वान् – the wise
युक्तः – steadfast in yoga
समाचरन् – performing well

Anvaya (word order)

विद्वान् युक्तः (सन्) सर्वकर्माणि समाचरन्, कर्मसङ्गिनाम् अज्ञानां बुद्धिभेदं न जनयेत्; जोषयेत् ।

Explanation

This verse shows the compassionate restraint of the wise. He may know that everything is complete at the level of the Self and that action is only a play of the gunas; yet if he preached this to those busy in action, they might lose their bearings. They would give up action without gaining knowledge. That is ‘buddhi-bheda’, the splitting of the mind.

Therefore the wise person, himself ‘yukta’ — established in yoga — should perform actions well and, through his conduct, keep others engaged in action. Shankara holds that instruction should suit the qualification of the hearer; to speak of lofty truths to the unprepared is harmful. Ramanuja reads it as saying that the wise should keep all firmly in Karma Yoga by showing its glory.

The lesson remains priceless. A good teacher speaks according to the pupil's understanding. Teaching is useful only when the hearer can digest it.

The conduct of the wise is kind: he does not hurriedly pull anyone from their present understanding but walks beside them and lifts them gradually.

Context

Verse 3.25 spoke of the wise acting for loka-sangraha. Verse 3.26 adds that he should not shake the faith of others. From 3.27 the Lord moves to the true nature of doership.

Life lesson

Pulling someone abruptly out of their present understanding is no help. Lead others forward by example, with patience and sympathy.

Key terms

Buddhi-bheda: confusion or wavering of understanding
Karma-sangi: one attached to action
Joshayet: should engage lovingly in action