Bhagavad Gita 16.24
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 24 of 24
तस्माच् छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुम् इहार्हसि ॥
tasmāc chāstraṃ pramāṇaṃ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau | jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṃ karma kartum ihārhasi ||
Therefore śāstra is your pramāṇa for kārya-akārya. Know what śāstra declares — then act accordingly in the world.
Word by word (3)
- tasmāc chāstraṃ pramāṇaṃ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau
- — therefore (tasmāt) scripture (śāstram) is your authority/standard (pramāṇam te) in determining (vyavasthitau) what should be done (kārya) and what should not be done (akārya) — the chapter's conclusion as personal instruction to Arjuna
- jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktam
- — having known (jñātvā) what is declared (uktam) by śāstric ordinance (śāstra-vidhāna) — knowledge of the śāstra as prerequisite to action
- karma kartum ihārhasi
- — you should (arhasi) perform (kartum) action (karma) here (iha — in this world) — Arjuna is directly addressed to act from this śāstric knowledge
Therefore, let scripture be your authority for determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Knowing what is declared by scriptural ordinance, you should perform your actions in this world.
A modern analogy
This closing verse is like the end of a safety briefing: here is what can harm you (desire, anger, greed), here is the consequence (hell, downward births), here is the protection (scripture as your standard), and here is your assignment (do your work here in the world). The chapter closes the circle: Chapter 16 opened by assuring Arjuna he was born to the divine endowment, with the words 'do not grieve'; it closes with scriptural action as his path forward.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Therefore, the scripture is thy authority in deciding as to what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Now, thou oughtest to know and perform thy duty laid down in the scripture-law. [1]
So let the Shastra be thy authority in ascertaining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Having known what is said in the ordinance of the Shastra, thou shouldst act here. [4]
Therefore in discriminating between what should be done and what should not be done, your authority must be scripture. Knowing the ordinance of scripture, you should perform action in this world. [9]
The scriptures should be thy authority in determining what should be done and what should not be done. It behooves thee to do work here, having ascertained what has been declared by the ordinances of the scriptures. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Where yogeśvara Kṛṣṇa is, where archer Pārtha stands — there abide fortune, victory, flourishing, and steadfast dharma.
Even the wise are confused about action vs. inaction. I will explain — knowing this frees you from all wrong.
Two puruṣas: kṣara (all mutable beings) and akṣara (kūṭastha, immutable ground) — both about to be transcended.
Mental tapas: serenity of mind, kindliness, silence, self-restraint, and purity of motive/bhāva.
Knowledge, action, and agent are each three-fold by guṇa-distinction — as declared in the guṇa-science. Hear them.
Brāhmaṇa dharma: śama, dama, tapas, purity, forbearance, uprightness, knowledge, wisdom, faith — born of svabhāva.
Verse 24 of 24 · back to Chapter 16