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Shloka 29

Karma-Saṃnyāsa–Karma-Yoga Saṃvāda

Renunciation and the Discipline of Action

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढा: सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु । तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्‌ कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत्‌,प्रकृतिके गुणोंसे अत्यन्त मोहित हुए मनुष्य गुणोंमें और कर्मोमें आसक्त रहते हैं, उन पूर्णतया न समझनेवाले मन्दबुद्धि अज्ञानियोंको पूर्णतया जाननेवाला ज्ञानी विचलित न करे)

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

Ceux dont l’intelligence est troublée par les guṇas de la nature matérielle s’attachent aux guṇas et aux actes qui en procèdent. Celui qui connaît le tout ne doit pas ébranler les esprits lents qui n’en saisissent qu’une part ; qu’il guide plutôt sans susciter confusion ni mépris, surtout lorsque le devoir est lourd et que la guerre est imminente.

प्रकृतेःof Prakriti (nature)
प्रकृतेः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootप्रकृति
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
गुणसम्मूढाःdeluded by the guṇas
गुणसम्मूढाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootगुणसम्मूढ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सज्जन्तेbecome attached / cling
सज्जन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootसञ्ज्
FormPresent, Indicative, Ātmanepada, Third, Plural
गुणकर्मसुin qualities and actions
गुणकर्मसु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगुणकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
तान्those (people)
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अकृत्स्नविदःknowers of only a part (not of the whole)
अकृत्स्नविदः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअकृत्स्नविद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
मन्दान्dull-witted / slow
मन्दान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमन्द
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
कृत्स्नवित्the knower of the whole
कृत्स्नवित्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृत्स्नविद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
विचालयेत्should disturb / unsettle
विचालयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + चल्
FormPresent, Optative, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular

अजुन उवाच

P
prakṛti
G
guṇas
K
karma

Educational Q&A

People driven by the guṇas naturally cling to guṇa-based actions; therefore, the wise should not arrogantly disrupt the partially informed, but lead them skillfully toward clearer understanding and steadier dharma without causing inner conflict or resentment.

On the battlefield setting of Bhīṣma Parva, the teaching addresses how knowledge should be applied amid urgent duty: even when one sees deeper truth, one should counsel others in a way that supports right action rather than destabilizing those not yet ready for full insight.