Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionKrishna
Verse 21
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 21
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते॥२१॥
Transliteration
Yad-Yad-Acharati Shreshthah Tat-Tad-Evetaro Janah.
Sa Yat-Pramanam Kurute Lokas-Tad-Anuvartate.||21||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
यत् यत्yat yatwhatever
आचरतिacharatidoes/practices
श्रेष्ठःshreshthaha great/noble person
तत् तत्tat tatthat very thing
एवevaonly
इतरःitarahthe rest/common
जनःjanahpeople
सःsahhe
यत्yatwhatever
प्रमाणम्pramanamstandard/example
कुरुतेkurutesets
लोकःlokahthe world
तत्tatthat
अनुवर्ततेanuvartatefollows
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
श्रेष्ठ (महान) पुरुष जो-जो आचरण करता है, अन्य लोग भी वैसा ही करते हैं। वह जो प्रमाण (मानदण्ड) स्थापित करता है, समस्त लोक उसका अनुसरण करता है।
English Translation
Whatever a great person does, common people follow. Whatever standard such a person sets, the entire world follows.
Commentary (टीका)
This is one of the most famous and widely quoted verses of the Gita. It establishes the principle of leadership by example. Those in positions of influence — whether leaders, teachers, parents, or public figures — bear a profound responsibility, as ordinary people naturally imitate their behavior. This applies equally in personal, professional, and spiritual contexts.