Bhagavad Gita 3.26
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 26 of 43
न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् । जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् ॥
na buddhi-bhedaṃ janayed ajñānāṃ karma-saṅginām | joṣayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācaran ||
Don't shake the intellect of those not ready for the philosophy. Lead by example — let your action draw others forward.
Word by word (3)
- buddhi-bhedam na janayet
- — should not create confusion/splitting in the intellect · Buddhi-bheda = splitting/confusion of the intellect (buddhi = intellect, bheda = splitting, dividing). Janayet = should cause/create (causative of jan). The instruction: the wise person should not disrupt the understanding of those who are attached to action by preaching non-attachment to them prematurely.
- ajñānāṃ karma-saṅginām
- — of the ignorant who are attached to actions · Ajñānāṃ = of the ignorant ones (genitive plural). Karma-saṅgī = attached to action (karma + saṅga). Those who do their duty because of attachment to outcomes are at their own stage of development. Disrupting their buddhi with advanced philosophy could make them stop acting altogether — which is worse.
- joṣayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācaran
- — the wise, disciplined one should engage with all actions — and encourage others similarly · Joṣayet = should cause to be enjoyed/performed (causative of juṣ, to be pleased with). The wise one, by their own exemplary action (samācaran — same word as V9's complete action), inspires and encourages others to continue in their own action — without disrupting their current understanding.
The wise person should not create confusion in the minds of those who are ignorant and attached to action. Instead, being disciplined and engaged, the wise one should encourage others to do their own work.
A modern analogy
A master meditator does not walk into a room of stressed workers and announce 'your actions mean nothing — the Self alone exists.' They simply model equanimity. Over time, some will ask. Then the teaching happens. This is the verse's point: premature philosophy unsettles those who are not ready, while lived example draws others forward and transforms them.
Take with you
- Not everyone is ready for the full karma-yoga teaching. Timing and context matter in sharing wisdom.
- Buddhi-bheda (mind-splitting philosophy, prematurely given) can cause people to stop acting altogether — worse than attachment.
- Your primary teaching instrument is your example (samācaran — how you actually act), not your philosophy.
- Encouragement (joṣayet) of others in their own work is itself a form of lokasaṃgraha.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
The wise man should not cause any disturbance to the intellect of the ignorant ones who are attached to action. The wise one, duly performing all actions, should cause the others also to act. [1]
A wise man should not unsettle the minds of the ignorant people who are attached to action; but should get them to do all their actions, himself performing them with devotion. [4]
A wise man should not disturb the minds of those that are ignorant of or attached to the fruits of action, but, working devoutly, he should lead them to perform all their duties. [6]
Nay, the enlightened, the all-knowing one Should not disturb dull minds of untaught men With forcing them to acts which he performs, Albeit in seeming; let him lead, But lead by gentle steps. [7]
Let no wise man unsettle the understanding of the ignorant, who are attached to action; acting in the proper way himself, he should make (others) act also. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
The wise act like the unwise — same actions, same engagement — but without attachment, for the world's welfare.
Cast off this petty weakness of heart — rise. This is not who you are.
Those whose sin has ended — virtuous in deed, freed from dvandva-delusion — worship Me with firm resolve.
Acting for reward is the lowest form of action. Seek the wisdom that transcends reward-seeking.
Tamas — born of ignorance — deludes all beings and binds through carelessness, laziness, and sleep.
The fruit of sattvic action is pure; the fruit of rajas is pain; the fruit of tamas is ignorance.
Verse 26 of 43 · back to Chapter 3