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Verse 3.29

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु। तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत्।।

Transliteration (IAST)

prakṛter guṇa-sammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇa-karmasu | tān akṛtsna-vido mandān kṛtsna-vin na vicālayet ||

Word-by-Word Meanings

गुणसम्मूढाः-deluded by the gunas
सज्जन्ते-become attached
गुणकर्मसु-to actions of the gunas
अकृत्स्नविदः-of incomplete knowledge
मन्दान्-the dull
न विचालयेत्-should not unsettle

Translation

Those deluded by the gunas of nature become attached to the actions of the gunas. The one of complete knowledge should not unsettle the dull-witted who have incomplete understanding.

Commentary

Krishna reiterates the principle of compassionate wisdom. Those identified with prakriti cannot immediately grasp the truth of non-doership. Forcing this knowledge upon them would only create confusion and anxiety. The wise teacher meets students where they are.

Themes

jnanakarmadharma