In Bhagavad Gita 3.21, Krishna says that whatever a great person does, others follow; whatever standard such a person sets, the world follows it.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्
तत्तदेवेतरो जनः
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते
लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥ ३-२१ ॥
yadyadācarati śreṣṭhas
tattadevetaro janaḥ
sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute
lokastadanuvartate
English transliteration yadyadaacharati shreshthas
tattadevetaro janah
sa yatpramaanam kurute
lokastadanuvartate ॥ 3.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whatever a great person does, others follow. Whatever standard he sets, the world follows.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यत् यत् yat yat | whatever |
| आचरति ācarati | does |
| श्रेष्ठः śreṣṭhaḥ | a great person |
| तत् तत् tat tat | that |
| एव eva | alone |
| इतरः itaraḥ | other |
| जनः janaḥ | people |
| सः saḥ | he |
| यत् yat | whatever |
| प्रमाणम् pramāṇam | standard |
| कुरुते kurute | sets |
| लोकः lokaḥ | the world |
| तत् tat | that |
| अनुवर्तते anuvartate | follows |
Word-wise Chanting
- yad–ya–dā–ca–ra–ti śreṣ–ṭhas– 8 syllables yad-ya-daa-cha-ra-ti shresh-thas-
- tat–ta–de–ve–ta–ro ja–naḥ | 8 syllables tat-ta-de-ve-ta-ro ja-nah
- sa yat–pra–mā–ṇaṃ ku–ru–te 8 syllables sa yat-pra-maa-nam ku-ru-te
- lo–kas–ta–da–nu–var–ta–te || 3-21 8 syllables lo-kas-ta-da-nu-var-ta-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 3 Verse 21
Context
Krishna explains why lokasaṅgraha (3.20) matters: the power of example.
Meaning
People learn more from example than from words. Leaders and respected persons set the pattern that others imitate. If Arjuna, the great warrior, abandons his duty, others will feel justified in abandoning theirs. His example carries weight far beyond his own life.
This verse speaks to anyone with influence: parents, teachers, managers, public figures. Our conduct teaches more loudly than our advice. Responsibility grows with influence. Living well is not only a personal matter; it shapes the people who look to us.
In Practice
Think of who watches your example: children, colleagues, friends. Choose one behaviour you want them to learn from you, and practise it today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.