Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 29 (BG 3.29)

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कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते

You have the right to act...

Preparing your translation...

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते

You have the right to act...

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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 29 — Meaning & Commentary | Live Gita

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प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु |
तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् ||३-२९||

prakṛterguṇasammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇakarmasu . tānakṛtsnavido mandānkṛtsnavinna vicālayet ||3-29||

Those deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities. The man of perfect knowledge should not unsettle the foolish one who is of imperfect knowledge.

In simple words

Krishna warns Arjuna: "People who don't understand this are attached to their actions and their results. A wise person should not disturb or mock them — everyone is at their own stage of the journey."

Word-by-word meanings

प्रकृतेःof natureगुणसंमूढाःpersons deluded by the Gunasसज्जन्तेare attachedगुणकर्मसुin the functions of the alitiesतान्thoseअकृत्स्नविदःof imperfect knowledgeमन्दान्the foolish (thedullwitted)कृत्स्नवित्man of perfect knowledgeनnotविचालयेत्should unsettle

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

Swami Sivananda

3.29 प्रकृतेः of nature? गुणसंमूढाः persons deluded by the Gunas? सज्जन्ते are attached? गुणकर्मसु in the functions of the alities? तान् those? अकृत्स्नविदः of imperfect knowledge? मन्दान् the foolish (thedullwitted)? कृत्स्नवित् man of perfect knowledge? न not? विचालयेत् should unsettle.Commentary The ignorant people do action with the expectation of fruits. The wise people who have the knowledge of the Self should not distract the faith or conviction or belief of such ignorant persons. If they unsettle their minds they will give up actions and become victims of inertia. They will lead an idle life. They should be encouraged by the wise to do actions of the Sakama type (actions for the sake of their fruits) in the beginning. The wise ones should turn the minds of the ignorant by giving them gradual instructions on Karma Yoga (Yoga of selfless? desireless action) and its benefits? viz.? purification of the heart that leads to the attainment of Selfrealisation.

Swami Chinmayananda

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

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Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

Swami Sivananda

Swami Chinmayananda

Although many people generally understand that the desires dwelling in the mind manifest themselves as actions in the world for the fulfillment of the self, only the wise person remains fully acquainted with this truth, remaining peaceful and unattached in all actions. The multitude of people, completely deluded, remain ensnared by their own desires. One should not attempt to obstruct the flow of life in the form of actions, agitated by desires. The counsel given to the wise person in the twenty-sixth verse is here repeated in different words to emphasize it. The wise should not divert the dull-witted, ignorant, and attached persons from action, but should endeavor to gradually lead them onto the right path. In this way, the wise person, nurturing the garden of culture through a well-directed flow, can realize the dreams of individual and social advancement. For the ignorant person bound to action, the answer to how one should act in order to be freed from one's bondage is—

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 29 (BG 3.29) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

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