Bhagavad Gita 3.29
Karma Yoga · English Translation
Sanskrit
प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु | तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् ||३-२९||
Transliteration
prakṛterguṇasammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇakarmasu . tānakṛtsnavido mandānkṛtsnavinna vicālayet ||3-29||
Those deluded by the alities of Nature are attached to the functions of the alities. The man of perfect knowledge should not unsettle the foolish one who is of imperfect knowledge.
Word by Word
प्रकृतेः of nature, गुणसंमूढाः persons deluded by the Gunas, सज्जन्ते are attached, गुणकर्मसु in the functions of the alities, तान् those, अकृत्स्नविदः of imperfect knowledge, मन्दान् the foolish (thedullwitted), कृत्स्नवित् man of perfect knowledge, न not, विचालयेत् should unsettle
Classical Commentary
The ignorant people do action with the expectation of fruits. The wise people who have the knowledge of the Self should not distract the faith or conviction or belief of such ignorant persons. If they unsettle their minds they will give up actions and become victims of inertia. They will lead an idle life. They should be encouraged by the wise to do actions of the Sakama type (actions for the sake of their fruits) in the beginning. The wise ones should turn the minds of the ignorant by giving them gradual instructions on Karma Yoga (Yoga of selfless, desireless action) and its benefits, viz., purification of the heart that leads to the attainment of Selfrealisation.