Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 32

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम् ।
सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः ॥

Transliteration

ye tvetadabhyasūyanto nānutiṣṭhanti me matam .
sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃstānviddhi naṣṭānacetasaḥ ॥

Meaning

But those who, finding fault, do not follow this teaching of Mine — know them to be deluded in all knowledge, devoid of discrimination, and ruined.

Word meanings

ये – who
तु – but
एतत् – this
अभ्यसूयन्तः – cavilling at, finding fault
न अनुतिष्ठन्ति – do not follow
मे – My
मतम् – teaching
तान् – them
सर्वज्ञानविमूढान् – deluded in all knowledge
विद्धि – know
नष्टान् – lost, ruined
अचेतसः – devoid of discrimination

Anvaya (word order)

ये तु अभ्यसूयन्तः एतत् मे मतं न अनुतिष्ठन्ति, तान् सर्वज्ञानविमूढान् अचेतसः नष्टान् विद्धि ।

Explanation

This is the counterpart of the previous verse. One who lacks anasuya, who hunts for faults and refuses to follow this path, the Lord calls ‘nashta’, lost. It is not a curse but a description of fact: one who spurns the right path shuts the doors of his own growth.

The word ‘sarva-jnana-vimudha’ deserves notice — deluded in every kind of knowledge. Such a person may be clever in argument yet directionless on life's fundamental question. According to Shankara, they are confused in the name of knowledge and devoid of discrimination, and they fall from the human goal. Ramanuja points to those who oppose the Lord's supremacy and therefore remain deprived of their welfare.

This verse should be read not with pride but for self-examination. All of us sometimes refuse a truth because it goes against our convenience or prejudice. That is the greatest loss.

The Lord's warning is given in compassion: He tells Arjuna plainly what fault-finding leads to, so that he may avoid it.

Context

Verse 3.31 spoke of the fruit for those who practise with faith; 3.32 tells the state of those who neglect it. From 3.33 the discussion of Nature's influence and sense-control begins.

Life lesson

Examine your prejudices: are we rejecting a good thing only because it pricks our ego? Only an open mind moves forward.

Key terms

Abhyasuya: fault-finding and carping
Vimudha: deluded, directionless
Achetas: lacking discrimination, heedless