Chapter 3, Verse 21
Karma Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
yat yat—whatever; ācharati—does; śhreṣhṭhaḥ—the best; tat tat—that (alone); eva—certainly; itaraḥ—common; janaḥ—people; saḥ—they; yat—whichever; pramāṇam—standard; kurute—perform; lokaḥ—world; tat—that; anuvartate—pursues
English translation
Whatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the world follows.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 3.21
Commentary
Man is a social animal. He is an imitating animal too. He takes his ideas of right and wrong from those whom he regards as his moral superior. Whatever a great man follows; the same is considered as an authority by his followers. They try to follow him. They endeavour to walk in his footsteps.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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