Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita 3.21
Chapter 3, verse 21: the Sanskrit, the Roman letters, the meaning and what it is used for.
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते
yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ
sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate
Meaning
Whatever a great person does, others also do; whatever standard such a person sets, the world follows.
Explanation
Krishna turns from the individual to the one in a position of influence. A parent, a teacher, a manager or a public figure sets a pattern which others copy, often without noticing. The verse is read as a call to responsibility: do not only ask whether you can do something, ask what it teaches those who see you.
Where it fits
This is verse 21 of 43 in chapter 3, "The path of action" (Karma Yoga). previous verse (3.20) · next verse (3.22)
Questions people ask
What does Bhagavad Gita 3.21 mean?
Whatever a great person does, others also do; whatever standard such a person sets, the world follows.
Where is this verse?
It is verse 21 of chapter 3 (The path of action), which has 43 verses.
Meanings and explanations are our own wording, not an authorised translation. Readers of the Gita follow different traditions and teachers; please ask yours about what you read here.