प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु ।
तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् ॥
तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
प्रकृतिजन्य गुणोंसे अत्यन्त मोहित हुए अज्ञानी मनुष्य गुणों और कर्मोंमें आसक्त रहते हैं । उन पूर्णतया न समझनेवाले मन्दबुद्धि अज्ञानियोंको पूर्णतया जाननेवाला ज्ञानी मनुष्य विचलित न करे ॥
English
The ignorant, deluded by the qualities of nature, cling to actions born of those qualities. The wise should not unsettle those who do not yet understand fully.
What this verse means
People lost in the forces of nature become attached to action and its results. A person who understands more deeply should not shake them up unnecessarily.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen between duty and grief. Krishna explains that most people are driven by nature’s forces and cling to action blindly. The truly wise should not disturb them harshly, but lead them gently toward clarity.
Why this verse still matters
You finally understand a hard truth, but the person beside you is still reacting from fear. Pushing too fast can break trust before understanding has a chance to grow.
The takeaway
Wisdom does not need to humiliate confusion; it can guide without force.
Word-by-word translation
प्रकृतेः (of nature) / गुणसम्मूढाः (deluded by the qualities) / सज्जन्ते (they cling) / गुणकर्मसु (to actions of the qualities) / तान् (those) / अकृत्स्नविदः (those who do not know fully) / मन्दान् (the dull-minded) / कृत्स्नवित् (the one who knows fully) / न (not) / विचालयेत् (should unsettle)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3: Karma Yoga — The Yoga of Action, which contains 43 verses.
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), gunas (47 verses), delusion (19 verses)