In Bhagavad Gita 3.32, Krishna says that those who find fault with this teaching and do not follow it are deluded about all knowledge, lost and without discernment.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो
नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्
सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्
विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः ॥ ३-३२ ॥
ye tvetadabhyasūyanto
nānutiṣṭhanti me matam
sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃstān
viddhi naṣṭānacetasaḥ
English transliteration ye tvetadabhyasooyanto
naanutishthanti me matam
sarvajnaanavimoodhaamstaan
viddhi nashtaanachetasah ॥ 3.32 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But those who find fault with this teaching and do not follow it, deluded in all knowledge and lacking discernment, know them to be lost.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ये ye | who |
| तु tu | but |
| एतत् etat | this |
| अभ्यसूयन्तः abhyasūyantaḥ | finding fault |
| न na | not |
| अनुतिष्ठन्ति anutiṣṭhanti | follow |
| मे me | My |
| मतम् matam | teaching |
| सर्वज्ञानविमूढान् sarvajñānavimūḍhān | deluded in all knowledge sarva (all) + jñāna (knowledge) + vimūḍhān (deluded) |
| तान् tān | them |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| नष्टान् naṣṭān | lost |
| अचेतसः acetasaḥ | lacking discernment |
Word-wise Chanting
- ye tve–ta–dabh–ya–sū–yan–to 8 syllables ye tve-ta-dabh-ya-soo-yan-to
- nā–nu–tiṣ–ṭhan–ti me ma–tam | 8 syllables naa-nu-tish-than-ti me ma-tam
- sar–va–jñā–na–vi–mū–ḍhāṃs–tān– 8 syllables sar-va-jnaa-na-vi-moo-dhaams-taan-
- vid–dhi naṣ–ṭā–na–ce–ta–saḥ || 3-32 8 syllables vid-dhi nash-taa-na-che-ta-sah
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 32
Context
The contrast to 3.31: the result of rejecting the teaching.
Meaning
Those who reject the teaching out of resentment do not merely miss one idea; they lose their way in all knowledge. Without the key of right action and right understanding, every other kind of learning can mislead. Krishna calls them naṣṭa, lost, not as condemnation but as a description of their condition.
The verse is a warning about cynicism. A habit of rejecting every teaching that asks something of us leaves us without guidance. Discernment means testing ideas, but cynicism refuses to test them at all. The path to freedom requires at least a willingness to try.
In Practice
If you find yourself dismissing a teaching quickly, try practising it sincerely for a week before deciding.
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.