Bhagavad Gītā › Chapter 3 › Verse 26
Bhagavad Gītā 3.26: Don’t confuse beginners
न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् ।
जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् ॥
na buddhibhedaṃ janayedajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām
joṣayetsarvakarmāṇi vidvānyuktaḥ samācaran
Recitation: NehalDaveND (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 4.0, adapted, original recording
Meaning
Let the wise not create a division in the understanding of the ignorant who are attached to action; rather, performing all actions with discipline, let them encourage others in them. Teaching the higher view too soon can lead the unready to give up action altogether; the wise teach first by example.
For children
Krishna says: “Don’t mix people up. Show them how to do things well by doing them well yourself.”
Kṛṣṇa continues advising how the wise should act among others (3.25–3.29).
Word by word
न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेद् — The wise should not unsettle the minds
- buddhibheda: unsettling the mind
- janayet: should cause
अज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् — of those still attached to their work, who don’t yet know
- ajña: one who does not yet know
- karmasaṅgin: attached to action
जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि — they should help them enjoy all their work
- joṣayet: should encourage, make enjoy
- sarvakarmāṇi: all actions
विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् — by doing it well themselves, steady and wise
- vidvas: the wise
- yukta: steady, disciplined
- samācaran: doing well
Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. The Sanskrit is checked against four editions; meanings and word notes are simple learning aids written for MahaPrabha Gurukul, awaiting review by a Sanskrit teacher.