Mahabharata
Bhagavad-gītā (003) (Karma Yoga)6.25.31-35
5428 / 15823
Mahabharata · 6.25.31-35
Devanāgarī

ये मे मतम् इदं नित्यम् अनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः ॥
श्रद्धावन्तो ऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते ते ऽपि कर्मभिः ॥
ये त्व् एतद् अभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम् ॥
सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस् तान् विद्धि नष्टान् अचेतसः ॥
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर् ज्ञानवान् अपि ॥
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ॥
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ ॥
तयोर् न वशम् आगच्छेत् तौ ह्य् अस्य परिपन्थिनौ ॥
श्रेयान् स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात् स्वनुष्ठितात् ॥
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ye me matam idaṃ nityam anutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ ||
śraddhāvanto 'nasūyanto mucyante te 'pi karmabhiḥ ||
ye tv etad abhyasūyanto nānutiṣṭhanti me matam ||
sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃs tān viddhi naṣṭān acetasaḥ ||
sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛter jñānavān api ||
prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ||
indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau ||
tayor na vaśam āgacchet tau hy asya paripanthinau ||
śreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt ||
svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ ||

Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ये मे मतम् इदं नित्यम्ye me matam idaṃ nityamthose who this teaching of Mine constantly; who this instruction of Mine always
अनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाःanutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥfollow, these people; people consistently observe
श्रद्धावन्तो ऽनसूयन्तोśraddhāvanto 'nasūyantoendowed with faith, without envy; with faith and without cavil
मुच्यन्ते ते ऽपि कर्मभिःmucyante te 'pi karmabhiḥthey too are freed from actions; they too are released from karma
ये त्व् एतद् अभ्यसूयन्तोye tv etad abhyasūyantobut those who, disparaging this; but who, carping at this
नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्nānutiṣṭhanti me matamdo not follow My teaching; do not observe My instruction
सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस् तान्sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃs tānthem, confused in all knowledge; them, bewildered regarding all knowledge
विद्धि नष्टान् अचेतसःviddhi naṣṭān acetasaḥknow to be lost, senseless; consider ruined, devoid of understanding
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याःsadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥacts in accordance with his own; behaves according to his own
प्रकृतेर् ज्ञानवान् अपिprakṛter jñānavān apinature, even the knowledgeable one; prakriti, even the wise
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानिprakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtānibeings follow their own nature; living creatures conform to nature
निग्रहः किं करिष्यतिnigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyatiwhat will restraint accomplish; what good will suppression do
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थेindriyasyendriyasyārthefor each sense, in its object; in the object of each organ
रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौrāgadveṣau vyavasthitauattraction and aversion are situated; passion and hatred are established
तयोर् न वशम् आगच्छेत्tayor na vaśam āgacchetone should not come under their power; one must not fall under their sway
तौ ह्य् अस्य परिपन्थिनौtau hy asya paripanthinaufor they are indeed his enemies on the path; for they are obstacles to him
श्रेयान् स्वधर्मो विगुणःśreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥbetter one's own dharma, though flawed; better one's own duty, though imperfect
परधर्मात् स्वनुष्ठितात्paradharmāt svanuṣṭhitātthan another's dharma well performed; than another's duty perfectly carried out
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयःsvadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥdeath in one's own dharma is better; better to perish in one's own duty
परधर्मो भयावहःparadharmo bhayāvahaḥanother's dharma brings fear; another's duty is dangerous
Translation

"People who constantly follow this teaching of Mine with faith and without envious cavil are also freed from karma. But those who, carping at it, do not follow My instruction — know them to be confused in all knowledge, devoid of understanding, and ruined. Even the knowledgeable act according to their own nature; beings follow nature. What will mere suppression accomplish? Toward each sense and its object, attraction and aversion are set; one should not fall under their power, for they obstruct a person on the path. Better one's own dharma, even imperfect, than another's dharma well performed. Better death in one's own dharma: another's dharma brings danger."

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8039a30ff20a · published Jul 17, 2026, 8:55:05 PM UTC

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